Barrell Bourbon Batch 033
58.3% 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 033 is a marriage of high-rye barrels and high-corn barrels ranging in age from 5 to 9 years old. The high-rye barrels were chosen for their distinct stone fruit, black pepper, and nutmeg notes. The high-corn barrels were chosen for their rich butterscotch, coffee, and citrus notes. Two sets of barrels mingled together for two months, then the balance was adjusted for the most optimal combination.
- A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
- Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana
- Selection of 5, 6, 7, and 9-year-old barrels
- Aged in American white oak barrels
- Bottled in Kentucky
- 116.6 proof cask strength bottling
FLAVOR NOTES
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 displays all the complexity of a blend of different distillates given time to blossom. Barrel character adds some diverse leafy notes at the margins without an overabundance of extractive woody or spice notes.
Neat
Appearance: Citrine set in yellow gold.
Nose: Pear, lemon meringue, and shoofly pie set the stage for a bourbon deftly balanced between freshness and maturity. A bouquet of jasmine, nasturtium, and dandelion speak to a youthful exuberance, while peppermint and gentian root depict an oak barrel just creeping in. A gentle savory character expands into edamame, macadamia nut, and mesquite smoke.
Palate: Champagne, applesauce, and candied grapefruit peel show ample maturity without an excessive oak. The baking spice character is dialed up slightly, exhibiting cocoa powder, allspice, star anise, and juniper.
Finish: A burst of heat rides a wave of minerals across the palate that include limestone, beach sand, and salt-water taffy. Geranium, elderflower, and chamomile reinforce the nose’s bouquet. The finish fades to the slightly bitter prickle of returning gentian root and lime peel, wiping the palate clean.
With a few drops of spring water
The palate grows much more viscous; it’s rich and sweet with vanilla buttercream. The savory notes intensify, with pickled caper, fried mushroom and hush puppies leading the way. The fruity notes expand dramatically to include nectarine, honeydew melon, passionfruit, and coconut cream.
What Gary Says
Nose: Caramel sauce, dried fruit, toffee, oak, floral notes with baking spices of nutmeg and cinnamon.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, spicy with orange, honey, pepper, oak, cinnamon, bit of lemon and a hint of anise.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with mineral notes, lemon and lime.
Comments: A sharper, spicier batch than some previous ones, which fans of a spicy bourbon will enjoy (it actually reminds me a bit of rye whiskey). A bit of water brings out more of the fruit notes and tamps the edges nicely. This works fabulously in a Manhattan or Vieux Carré.