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Brothers Justus Founder’s Reserve 3 is the newest cask-strength release from Minnesota’s trailblazing American single malt distillery. Crafted from 100% pale ale malted barley and aged in new Minnesota white oak barrels, this whiskey captures the character of its homeland in every sip. With layers of candied fruit, warm spice, and roasted nuttiness, it is a bold yet balanced expression that celebrates both the craft of distillation and the unique terroir of the North. Hand-selected by founder Phil Steger, Founder’s Reserve 3 shows that Minnesota is not just making whiskey, it is redefining it. |
This week’s Whiskey Wednesday drop takes us north to Minnesota, where the land itself shapes the whiskey. Brother Justus Founder’s Reserve 3 continues the story of a distillery built on conviction, craftsmanship, and a deep respect for place. Drawn from barrels hand-selected by founder Phil Steger, this 2025 release bursts with fruit, spice, and the unmistakable character of the North.
Following last week’s Angel’s Envy 10 Cask Strength release, a decade-aged celebration of patience and precision, this new drop shifts the spotlight to the North and proves that world-class whiskey can come from unexpected places.
Founder’s Reserve 3 is an American Single Malt whiskey distilled from 100% pale ale malted barley and aged in Minnesota white oak barrels. Bottled at a bold 125 proof (62.5% ABV), this limited-edition release is a cask-strength blend of eight three-year, thirty-gallon barrels and eighteen one-year, five-gallon barrels that were all hand-selected by Phil Steger.
Photo by The Restaurant Project
According to Brother Justus:
Nose: Fresh orange, candied cherry, light caramel
Palate: Candied orange peel, cherry vanilla cream, lemon drizzle cake
Finish: Toasted hazelnut and a faint whisper of campfire smoke
Want our method behind the notes? Here’s our tasting process.
From Phil Steger, Founder & CEO:
“This whiskey is crafted to honor our namesake, Brother Justus Trettel, a bootlegging monk from Minnesota, and the land we love. Each sip proves there's no better place to make whiskey than Minnesota, where the barley-growing Great Plains, the white oak stands of the Eastern Hardwood Forest, and Boreal Forest peatlands all converge.
We distill our whiskey from 100% pale ale malted barley, specially fermented and selectively distilled to produce a microcosm of fruit and spice. Our approach to aging in new Minnesota white oak barrels ensures that this cask-strength limited edition—blended from eight three-year, thirty-gallon barrels and eighteen one-year, five-gallon barrels hand selected by me—bursts with candied cherry, orange, and pineapple, roasted pecan, sarsaparilla, and custard.”
Minnesota is the only state where four bioregions converge, and each plays a part in Brother Justus whiskey.
The Great Plains – Deep prairie soil ideal for cultivating barley.
The Oak Savanna – Home of the world’s coldest oak™, used for aging barrels.
The Boreal Forest – Bogs rich with ancient peat that influence regional terroir.
Headwaters of the Mississippi River – Cold, pure water that defines the spirit’s clarity.
Together, these landscapes make Minnesota one of the most unique whiskey regions in the country, a place where nature and craftsmanship truly meet.
For Phil Steger, building Brother Justus Whiskey Company has always been about more than a bottle. It is about conviction, belief, and possibility. His dedication to Minnesota’s heritage and the craft of whiskey-making shines through in every release, reminding drinkers that where it’s made matters just as much as how it’s made.
Founder’s Reserve 3 captures the essence of Minnesota in a glass: bold, bright, and beautifully balanced.
It is a whiskey that honors tradition while embracing innovation, proving that the North has earned its place on the American whiskey map.
Every Whiskey Wednesday highlights bottles that tell a story, and this one speaks to a sense of place few distilleries can claim. Brother Justus Founder’s Reserve 3 brings together the elements that make Minnesota unique, its grain, oak, water, and spirit, and turns them into something distinctly its own. It is more than a release; it is a reminder that great whiskey can come from anywhere passion and patience meet.
If you enjoyed this feature, check out Sweetens Cove 5-Year and Dunwoody 6-Year Tennessee Bourbons, two new expressions inspired by golf, good company, and the spirit of the South.
Looking for more collector-worthy bottles? Explore Penelope Estate Collection: Omega and see how its French oak finish compares to the bold Minnesota character of Founder’s Reserve 3.
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