Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey has released Black Reserve, a new expression aged in heavily charred bourbon barrels, across the United States. The triple-distilled whiskey, which originates from the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, carries a suggested retail price of $32.99.
Black Reserve is a blend of single malt and grain whiskey aged for a minimum of four years in level 3 heavily charred bourbon barrels.
The maturation process uses both first and second-fill American Oak bourbon casks to create the whiskey’s flavor profile.
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READ THE STORY“We want Black Reserve to reinforce what Proper No. Twelve has been about from the start: expert craftsmanship, approachability and more than 400 years of whiskey production and blending expertise,” said Lander Otegui, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Proximo Spirits.
The heavily charred American Oak first-fill barrels contribute robust bourbon flavors, including rich caramel, toasted wood, soft vanill,a and sweeter notes.
Second-fill barrels add vanilla, toffee, and spice characteristics while maintaining the brand’s signature smooth taste.
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“The toasted wood and heartier caramel notes from the heavily charred barrels balanced by the gentle vanilla sweetness, is a great testament to that,” Otegui added.
American White Oak’s tighter grain structure requires firing to open the wood, which then imparts bolder caramel and oak flavors during the aging process.
The brand recommends serving Black Reserve neat, on the rocks, or in a Proper Black Honey Old Fashioned cocktail with added honey to complement the whiskey’s vanilla notes.
Proper No. Twelve ranks as the third-largest Irish whiskey brand in the United States according to NielsenIQ data for the 52 weeks ending January 10, 2026.
The launch comes ahead of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, positioning Black Reserve as a premium option for both American and Irish whiskey drinkers.
Black Reserve joins Proper No. Twelve’s core range, which includes the original expression launched by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in 2018.
