Not a scam in the sense that it isn't aged or isn't an actual whiskey (looking at you Templeton rye) or cognac or whatever, but in the sense that it's retarded to pay a premium for it. Single barrel to me is simply a marketing term to get you to pay more, for the same damn thing, because they stuck it in a smaller barrel yet all other things are exactly the same, assuming they are aged the same.
Additionally, and I've had this happen with both whiskey and cognac, a single barrel bottle to another single barrel bottle of the exact same alcohol have tasted differently. It was to the point that we thought it wasn't even the same brand.
So with that said, single barrel is for dumb people*.
* - Unless all they produce is single barrel. Because then you're just stuck.
Additionally, and I've had this happen with both whiskey and cognac, a single barrel bottle to another single barrel bottle of the exact same alcohol have tasted differently. It was to the point that we thought it wasn't even the same brand.
So with that said, single barrel is for dumb people*.
* - Unless all they produce is single barrel. Because then you're just stuck.