Cherry | Concord grape | Nectarine | Olive oil | Herbal | Cinnamon oak | Delicate, but still expressive

Raspberry | Oak | Dried fig | Roasted chestnuts

Black cherry | Cranberry | Pepper | Cocoa powder | Very mild dryness | Potent heat & spice

Frank August is spearheaded by CEO and Co-Founder, Johnathan Crocker, the former denim and fashion executive for AG Jeans and BLDWN. Frank August’s concept isn’t an elaborate backstory, instead allowing the bourbon (and bottle) to speak for itself. The minimalist and contemporary designed bottle is your first clue that there’s a high concept in play here. We reviewed their first small batch release stating, “Much like its bottle design, [the bourbon is] delicate and sophisticated. It's a tight package overall that knows what it is, knows what it set out to do, and accomplishes it with precision.”

For their second release, Frank August moved into the single barrel realm. After Crocker picked 10 of his favorite barrels, he sourced a “collective expertise of some of the industry’s most respected master distillers and master blenders” to select the five winning barrels. Barrel No. 5  starts with a delicate, yet wonderfully expressive fruit-filled aroma. It's memorable not only for its fruitiness but also for its unique inclusion of olive oil and herbal scents. The palate features an oily mouthfeel that carries with it a flavorful mix of raspberry, oak, dried fig, and roasted chestnut. The finish is equally expressive with its black cherry and cranberry that switches to pepper and cocoa powder later. Barrel No. 5 is careful to never venture too far into sweet territory and that seems to be by design. Its flavor profile is an uncommon pairing of flavors but they work exceptionally well together. Frank August Single Barrel is an improvement over their already impressive small batch release and the company is two for two in my book.