Barrell Bourbon Batch 031
55.6% ABV
$90
Website
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Blender Says
Barrell Bourbon Batch 031 is a blend of 6, 7, 10, 15 and 16-year-old barrels. The blend was built around the sweetness in a group of 99% corn bourbon barrels and a group of wheated bourbon barrels. To bridge these two groupings, we layered in 15 and 16-year-old barrels for their gentle nuttiness and oak. Finally, a selection of 10-year-old barrels was added to bring notes of milk chocolate and tropical fruit.
- A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
- Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana
- Selection of 6, 7, 10, 15, and 16-year-old barrels
- Aged in American white oak barrels
- Bottled in Kentucky
- 111.2 proof cask strength bottling
FLAVOR NOTES
A perfect autumn release, this batch’s notes of shortbread cookie, pumpkin pie, peppermint latte, and pine needles match the mood of sweater weather.
Neat
Appearance: Deep Gold.
Nose: A rush of dry, notable oak, incorporating wormwood, tobacco, and pine needles. Curious and sweet with browned butter, candied walnut, and spiced apple pie. Other notes balance between woodsy and floral, such as thistle, milkweed, and poppyseed. As we emerge beyond the scope of oak, we find some fruity and sweet cream notes, the latter represented by peppermint latte and vanilla creme anglaise.
Palate: Moderate sweetness and juicy citrus make for quite an easy pour. The fruit sings loudest here — pomegranate juice and strawberry rhubarb pie. Extractive elements of spice and tannin bring quince and ginger beer into the equation. The baking spice nods toward a Manhattan, garnished with an orange twist. Finally, some marshmallow root and pumpernickel take it in an earthier, cardoon-like direction.
Finish: A quick burst of heat announces smoked paprika, black peppercorn, and spearmint. As it subsides, demerara rum and black cherry soda emerge. Finally, it fades to leave only a little chalk and slate.
With a few drops of spring water
As is often the case, the oak gets pushed way back to reveal abundant tropical fruit, especially lime and passion fruit. The woodsy/floral balance also pitches over into the bouquet, displaying apple blossom, dogwood and rose. Creamed honey and grilled peach take over the plate, leaving behind fresh young ginger in the finish.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich salted caramel, oak, leather, tobacco, freshly baked shortbread cookies, honey, mixed nuts, hint of pumpkin pie.
Palate: Rich and thick mouthfeel, fruity with peach cobbler, pecan praline, baked pears, dates, dark chocolate, caramel syrup, cinnamon, allspice and toasted marshmallow.
Finish: Long and damp with pepper, caramel, mint and honey.
Comments: Another really lovely bourbon! Thick right out of the bottle, and thickens up even more with a bit of water. Complex, sweet, spicy, bit of oak but overall – really nicely balanced. A bit of water give it this ‘dusty bourbon’ vibe (if you’ve had 80’s glut bourbon, it reminds me of that). This might be my favorite Barrell Bourbon release yet!