Barrell Dovetail
Whiskey Finished in Rum, Port & Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Barrels
62.35% ABV
$80
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
Dovetail took almost a year to get right, from blending to labeling, all coming together in a seemingly perfect point. We have produced limited releases of Dovetail using the same ingredients and process. With each bottling, there are proof variations.
Dovetail is blended to highlight some of our favorite flavors. Woody bourbon; terroir driven Dunn Cabernet; toasted French oak; Late Bottled Vintage Port pipes; black strap molasses casks; all working in tandem to create a buttery and deep whiskey as unique as it is delicious.
FLAVOR NOTES
Neat
Appearance: Rose gold with highlights of worn copper.
Nose: Opens with mature aromas both sweet (canelé, panna cotta, crème de noyaux) and savory (walnut oil, leather). This is followed quickly by a vast array of fruit derived both from the spirit (smoked apricot, grapefruit peel) as well as the cask treatment (sloe gin, damson jam). The aroma is high toned, pungently floral and herbaceous, with subtle, balancing pops of minerality.
Palate: Darker (cocoa, molasses, burnt marshmallow) and spicier (cola, nutmeg, Tellicherry peppercorn) than the nose, an effect well-complemented by the cask treatment and rendered more complex by the savory and herbaceous themes running throughout.
Finish: A sweet and elegant signature of rose jelly, chestnut honey, and Pineau des Charentes that also features hazelnut, eucalyptus, and Corsican mint.
With a few drops of spring water
An unexpected avalanche of orange and tropical notes of watermelon, lychee and vanilla on the nose.
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla, tropical fruit notes of pineapple and grapefruit, sponge cake, savory spice, floral, nutty with subtle exotic wood (mahogany?) notes.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with cocoa, caramel, molasses, pepper spice kicks in with cinnamon, savory spices with tarragon and an acidic citrus note.
Finish: Moderately long with honey, chocolate, hazelnut and mint.
Comments: I hadn’t tried this before, and had NO idea what I was missing. Deceptive nose with more tropical and citrus fruit notes, while the palate shifts gears and reminds me of a spicy SNICKERS® bar. I like (good) surprises, and when a nose and palate feel different, provided both are good, that’s not a bug but a feature – and one that is tricky to pull off. Bit of water brings out the fruit more, while retaining that lovely thick mouthfeel.