Broken Barrel Small Batch
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Broken Barrel Staves
47.5% ABV
$35
Website
We would like to thank Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
Broken Barrel Bourbon features a unique blend of corn, rye, and barley that makes it perfectly balanced to infuse. We partnered with an incredible world-class Kentucky Bourbon distillery to select the finest bourbon base for our products. The bourbon is aged a minimum of one year (it has to be) to be called a Kentucky Bourbon, which also ensures a specific quality we’re looking for before incorporate our Oak Bill™.
WHAT IS THE OAK BILL?
After a minimum of one year in new charred oak barrels, the bourbon is dumped to steel tanks, where each batch of Broken Barrel is hit with new French oak staves, ex-bourbon barrel staves, and a blend of ex-sherry cask staves.
Rich, complex, layered and beyond beautiful, Broken Barrel boldly goes where other whiskies won’t – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Mash Bill:
70% Corn
21% Rye
9% Malted Barley
Oak Bill™
40% French Oak Staves
40% Ex-Bourbon Cask Staves
20% Sherry Cask Staves
A note about Staves – there is a tremendous amount of surface area when using staves to age and flavor a whiskey – much more than merely using the inside of a barrel. There are several more surfaces making contact with the liquid, each adding its own character and flavor.
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla bean, bit of alcohol, corn flakes with a hint of sherry.
Palate: Sweet with vanilla, caramel, subtle toffee, baking spices with cinnamon, cherries and raisins.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, drying with spice notes and dried fruit.
Comments: Similar to the Broken Barrel California Oak, this tastes fairly young to me (and is 2-3 years old) – but I like this better. I was surprised with the note of alcohol on the nose at this proof, and that to me speaks to the immaturity of the spirit – even given time in the glass. As I’m not a big wine guy (but do like some sherry matured and finished whisk(e)y!), I definitely preferred this better. I think this use of different barrel staves in various quantities provides some interesting possibilities (similar to Maker’s Mark use of finishing staves, but used within a barrel); just wish they would use more mature spirits.