Distillery profile

Barrel 21

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Barrel 21 Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Barrel 21 Distillery is located in State College, Pennsylvania, and operates on a grain-to-glass principle with locally grown grain varieties. The distillery combines a core lineup of bourbons and ryes with experimental small-batch releases and a growing single malt program. Equipment includes a custom 350-liter Carl still with a rectifying column, and the products include classic bourbons, ryes, and more unconventional expressions such as barrel-rested gin.

History

Barrel 21 has built its production around a specially built facility; the still itself is a 350-liter Carl model built in 2015 by Carl Artisan Stills, a workshop with a long tradition of building quality stills. The distillery’s development is also reflected in recognitions: in both 2022 and 2024 Barrel 21 received medals from the American Craft Spirits Association, and in 2026 it achieved placements and awards at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. As production has grown, the distillery has maintained a local approach to grain selection while launching single barrel and single malt releases that showcase both craftsmanship and a spirit of experimentation.

Raw Materials and Production

The entire production chain is operated in-house: the grains come from Pennsylvania, and the distillation takes place on a 350-liter Carl still equipped with a 7-plate rectifying column, a dephlegmator, and a stainless steel condenser. Copper is used in the still’s alembic and column components to improve heat transfer and bind sulfur compounds, aiming to produce a clean distillate. The distillates are then transferred to aging tanks where they are diluted with purified water to the desired barrel- or bottle-strength, and then moved to casks for long-term aging. The mashbills cover traditional bourbon and rye compositions (e.g., a high proportion of Wapsie Valley corn in White-Tail and a high proportion of Danko Rye in Woodcock) as well as malt-based setups in single malt releases. The operation is small-batch oriented with room for single-barrel selection and variation between batches.

Maturation and Barrel Types

The distillery primarily uses 53-gallon barrels with #4 char for bourbon and rye, as well as new charred white oak barrels for single barrel releases. Wapiti single malt has been aged in new, charred 53-gallon barrels for more than six years, while 5-year White-Tail is an example of a single barrel aged for 72 months in new oak. For gin, used whiskey casks are employed to impart wood influence. The choice between new and used barrels and different char levels influences how much wood, vanilla, and spice the spirit absorbs over time, enabling both classic and experimental expressions.

Whiskies

Barrel 21's whiskey lineup ranges from their core bourbon and rye to special releases such as White-Tail single barrel and an American single malt (Wapiti). Core products cover traditional mashbills with local grain varieties, while small-batch and single-barrel releases showcase the distillery's experimental side. In addition to whiskey, the distillery also produces gin, rum, and vodka, but the whiskies stand as the backbone of the portfolio with both readily available bottlings and limited releases.

Whisky Type / Series Alcohol Age Barrel and Style Flavor Profile Status
Woodcock Straight Rye Whiskey Straight Rye Whiskey 53-gallon charred oak barrel Woodcock Straight Rye is made from Pennsylvania grain and aged in 53-gallon barrels with #4 char. Mashbill consists primarily of Danko Rye with smaller portions of Wapsie Valley corn, malted barley and malted rye. Active; Core Range
White-Tail Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bourbon Minimum 2 years 53-gallon charred oak barrel White-Tail is a Pennsylvania bourbon based on local grains and matured at least two years in 53-gallon barrels with #4 char. Mashbill gives a notable grain-forward character with a high proportion of Wapsie Valley corn. Active; Core Range
White-Tail Pennsylvania Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 5 year Single Barrel Bourbon 45 % 5 years New, charred white oak barrel A single-barrel release selected by the distiller, aged in a new charred white oak barrel for 72 months. Same bourbon base as White-Tail, but developed longer in the barrel for increased complexity.; Nose: Soft with notes of fruit, wood and vanilla; Taste: Sweet and full-bodied with prominent caramel notes Limited
Wapiti American Single Malt Whiskey American Single Malt 45 % More than 6 years New, charred 53-gallon oak barrel; smoked/dried The first American single malt from Barrel 21, composed of 87% Speyside malt and 13% smoked malt, aged in new charred 53-gallon barrels for more than six years.; Nose: Nutty and sweet aromas with fruit and spices; Taste: Fruit and spice with a touch of smoke at the finish; Aftertaste: Some smoke in the background Active; Core Range

Whisky Styles and Flavor Profiles

Through product descriptions, three consistent aroma and flavor directions recur: fruitiness (noted in Wapiti and White-Tail), spice (emphasized in single malt and long-aged expressions), and wood/vanilla character from the casks (especially in longer-aged single-barrel expressions). Additionally, Wapiti indicates a light presence of smoke from smoked malt, and bourbon releases highlight sweetness and caramel as part of the influence of the casks.

Visit the Distillery

Barrel 21 operates two tasting rooms where all spirits are available for purchase: State College (2255 N. Atherton Street) and Penns Valley in Spring Mills (137 Streamside Place). Tastings and tours are offered, and visitors can participate in tastings and purchase bottles on-site. The State College location has weekly hours Monday to Sunday with longer weekend hours; Penns Valley has special hours spread over the week and weekend. Visits thus offer both purchasing opportunities and direct access to production via tours and tastings.

The listed hours are State College: Monday-Thursday 11:00-21:00; Friday & Saturday 11:00-22:00; Sunday 10:00-14:00. Penns Valley (Spring Mills): Tuesday 16:00-21:00; Wednesday-Friday 14:00-21:00; Saturday 12:00-21:00; Sunday 12:00-19:00.

Philosophy and Craft

Barrel 21 blends a local, grain-to-glass approach with a willingness to balance tradition and experimentation. Focus on Pennsylvania grains, handmade equipment, copper contact in distillation, and careful barrel selection reflect a value system that prioritizes quality in every decision from field to bottle.

Awards and Recognitions

  • ACSA Gold Medal (2022, Gold, Woodcock Straight Rye Whiskey)

  • ACSA Gold Medal (2024, Gold, Woodcock Straight Rye Whiskey)

  • ACSA Bronze Medal (2022, Bronze, White-Tail Straight Bourbon Whiskey)

  • ACSA Silver Medal (2024, Silver, White-Tail Straight Bourbon Whiskey)

  • PA Farm Show - Bourbon Category (2026, 1st Place, White-Tail Straight Bourbon Whiskey)

  • PA Farm Show - Rye Category (2026, 3rd Place, Woodcock Straight Rye Whiskey)

  • PA Preferred (2026, Winner, White-Tail Straight Bourbon Whiskey)