"Three friends with a passion — and a palate — for whiskey began buying single barrels in 2018. Today, every upstart comes up with its own blend, but Nashville Barrel Company was ahead of the curve, and its small-run selections distinguish it from others. From its downtown Nashville tasting room and nearby distillery, it extends this tradition to visitors, who can sample individual barrels and walk out with a bottle of their favorite. Special drops, including a honey barrel-finished straight bourbon and single barrel straight rye, often dribble out from NBC's private stash, making every visit a chance to hit the lottery. After all, they've earned Double Gold Awards from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for four years." - Jon Gugala