Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail
1st Release, 2022
65.77% ABV
$250
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
Over the past several years, Barrell Dovetail has become a highly regarded expression within our portfolio of products and the American Whiskey world. Recently, we became intrigued with applying the concept of “Dovetail” to some of our older stocks. The result is BCS Gray Label Dovetail, which still boasts our award-winning blend of Whiskey finished in rum, port, and Dunn Vineyards cabernet barrels and uses the same finishing and blending method. The difference, as with all our Gray Label offerings, is that we used older and more rare barrels in Gray Label Dovetail. The result harmoniously unites a dark and fruity California cabernet finish, a jammy and pleasurable port finish,
and a sweet and funky rum finish to create a well-balanced, iconic whiskey. The component whiskeys are aged up to 20 years, making the final blend significantly more elegant.
This is an ester-forward bourbon with the brooding depth of cabernet and port casks. The varied distillates and casks come together into a complex palate that showcases the cola notes of whiskey that’s spent many years in oak.
- Whiskey finished in rum, port, and Dunn Vineyards cabernet barrels
- Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada
- Aged in the US and Canada
- Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
- 131.54 proof cask strength bottling
FLAVOR NOTES
Neat
Appearance: Warm Amber.
Nose: Green grape, tart apple, and pollen lead into one very vivid note of just-pressed cider. The notes of gooseberry jam, cranberry sauce, and dried apricot are pronounced and defined. Maple walnut ice cream, tahini, and leather provide a subtle, savory undertone.
Palate: Robust and impeccably balanced, with flavors ranging from strawberry rhubarb pie to fennel pollen. Flan and coconut oil provide a rich and creamy texture that balances some light sandy tannin and modest astringency. Depth seems to come mostly from the oldest Canadian whiskeys, in the form of fennel, poppy seed and peppercorn. Allspice, ginger, and cola notes from the French and American oak round it out.
Finish: A burst of licorice candy and molasses gives way to Earl Grey Tea with honey. The palate is left with a range of dusty mineral notes, among them necco wafers, oyster shell, and squid ink.
With a few drops of spring water
Classical notes of crème brulée and funnel cake take the lead. The complexity here is more savory, with shiso, tomato, and tajin. An unexpected burst of lychee on the finish yields to charcoal and paraffin.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich, butterscotch brownies, green apples, sandalwood, mango, apricot, worn leather, flan with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Palate: Viscous mouthfeel, rich fruits with apricot jam, honey, molasses, bit of pepper spice followed by coconut, cola, and a hint of grapefruit.
Finish: Long and drying with anise, cola, honey and grapefruit.
Comments: Wow – a really delicious and well balanced dram with so much going on, I felt with each sip I was discovering something new! Water brings out more sweetness without knocking it out of balance, and retaining that lovely mouthfeel. I reviewed this side by side with Barrell Dovetail, which I enjoyed although this is definitely on another level. Several shades darker as it sits in the glass, and I’d give it as many minutes as you can wait to allow it to open up more. I wish I knew what ‘whiskey’ was included (reportedly this includes bourbon and rye from multiple sources), but whatever it is – it just works. If the mission is to not blend in with anything else you might pick up on the shelf – this nails it.
The blender’s notes are some of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. Squid ink and paraffin? Maple walnut ice cream and tajin? We’re still talking about a whiskey right?
Beyond absurd, half of this sounds unpalatable. Chill out Barrell. Your product is usually high quality in its own right – don’t sully that up with a deranged ego.
So, full disclosure – all comments are moderated. Some I just throw out. And while I think your last point is unfair – you raise some points about tasting notes that are fair.
If the various notes sound like something you wouldn’t drink – than don’t drink it. Period – end of story. Would “band-aids soaked in stale sea-water” sound like something you’d want to drink? Many wouldn’t (and understandably so), and those were describing a bourbon – I’d probably run the other way. But that’s a fairly apt description of some absolutely lovely Islay whisky.
I’ve never tasted creosote, but had plenty of whiskey where I caught a whiff of it. I have no idea what squid ink tastes like – so notes like that don’t necessarily help me. But they might help someone.
Are some tasting notes rather ambitious and flowery? Absolutely. But I’d rather have expansive notes with some added color, than notes such as this (not picking on Wild Turkey, but this is how they describe Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon – which I’m a big fan of):
Aroma: Vanilla
Taste: Sweet. Bold. Smooth
Finish: Spice with Orange Peel
My point is, the above doesn’t give me much to go on if I’m trying to understand what to expect. Vanilla? Yeah – it’s bourbon. Pretty much expect that in most cases. Sweet? Bold? Smooth? Could be describing chocolate milk. I’d much rather have more info (even if some might not give me any better clue) than less and generic. And my apologies again to Wild Turkey 🙂