USA TODAY
Innovative cocktails and spirits are having a moment in the beverage world right now, but the latest trend takes it to a new level. Hotels, bars and restaurants are now offering everything from single barrel spirits to custom wine, beer and sake in collaboration with local distillers, brewers and winemakers. These bespoke offerings appeal to both serious and adventurous cocktail drinkers. Anyone can walk into a bar and order a Maker’s Mark on the rocks, but not everyone has access to Private Select offerings at exclusive venues.
“For the first time, many hotels and restaurants now have the power to offer something truly unique through private barrel selections or custom barrel programs,” Samuels says. “We’re seeing this more and more with private whisky (and other spirit) barrel selections as a way to leverage their relationship with their customers. It’s exciting to see that customers are coming in and asking, ‘What do you have here that I can’t get anywhere else?’” From single barrel spirits to custom brews, browse the gallery above to see where you can find one-of-a-kind private labels and exclusive offerings around the country.