Burnt Church Distillery, positioned in Bluffton, South Carolina—simply 10 miles from Hilton Head—was based in 2019 by Billy J. Watterson and Sean Watterson, with Chris Crowe serving as president. Although nonetheless a younger participant within the whiskey world, Burnt Church has made a powerful impression due to custom-distilled releases via Kentucky partnerships, together with Inexperienced River Distilling and Jeptha Creed.
However Burnt Church isn’t simply sourcing—it’s distilling. Whereas the distillery initially launched with contract-produced whiskey, it’s now absolutely operational on its dwelling turf, laying down and releasing spirits distilled fully in South Carolina. One notable milestone: the transition of Johnny Fever Bourbon from a contract-distilled product to an in-house South Carolina-made whiskey.
In 2025, Burnt Church launched a 92 proof model of Johnny Fever Straight Bourbon, distilled fully in Bluffton. The earlier 80 proof model was the results of contract distillation. This new launch showcases a four-grain mashbill: 65% Yellow Dent corn, 18% Wrens Abruzzi rye, 5% wheat, and 12% two-row malted barley—all regionally grown and, within the case of the barley, malted in South Carolina. Fermentation takes place utilizing a candy mash strategy over 2.5 days in closed-top tanks. Distillation happens on a 14-inch Vendome column nonetheless, with spirit coming off at round 130 proof and barreled at 110 proof.
Like many craft distilleries, Burnt Church makes use of small barrels because it transitions towards customary 53-gallon cooperage. For Johnny Fever, they’ve employed 30-gallon barrels from The Barrel Mill in Minnesota, with a #3 char and heavy toast. This explicit batch is a mix of seven barrels—5 aged for 3 years and 50 days, and two aged for 3 years and 127 days.
Small-barrel getting older is a double-edged sword: it accelerates maturation, but when mismanaged, can lead to whiskey that’s overly tannic or unbalanced. Many craft distilleries wrestle to strike the best steadiness. So, does Johnny Fever fall into the “too oaky” lure—or has Burnt Church cracked the code on small-barrel whiskey?
Burnt Church Johnny Fever Bourbon Evaluate
The nostril opens with a darkish, brooding observe of blackstrap molasses earlier than shifting into the aroma of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran. After a couple of moments within the glass, hints of charred marshmallow and candied pineapple make an look. Given the whiskey’s age—over three years in a small barrel—one would possibly moderately count on an amazing oak presence, but that’s not the case. The steadiness between wooden and sweetness is surprisingly well-executed.
On the palate, honey Graham crackers cleared the path, adopted by blackberry jam. The midpalate brings in notes of crème brûlée and cinnamon glaze, supported by a medium-viscosity mouthfeel. The end delivers a unified impression that calls to thoughts Ben & Jerry’s Cinnamon Bun ice cream.
Johnny Fever exceeds expectations. Small barrel whiskey typically carries a popularity for being overly tannic or unrefined, and in lots of instances, that popularity is justified. However blind tasting this launch, it might be tough—even for seasoned lovers—to detect its small-barrel origins. It avoids the hallmarks of rushed maturation fully.
Having sampled different small barrel choices from Burnt Church, Johnny Fever confirms what’s change into more and more clear: this distillery might have genuinely discovered the right way to handle small-barrel getting older extra successfully than most, if not all, craft operations within the U.S.
At $40, it’s a wise purchase—and a compelling case examine in the right way to make small barrels work.
92 proof.
B+ / $40
Burnt Church Johnny Fever Bourbon
USD40
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