Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Mizunara
57.76% 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
Casks made from rare Mizunara hardwood are a true work of art. The wood is meticulously cut, and the barrels carefully raised due to the wood’s characteristics. Mizunara finishing imparts subtle notes of sandalwood, herbal spice, and coconut to bourbon, and precision is required to craft a harmonious blend. This cask finished bourbon was expertly blended using bourbons distilled from multiple mash bills and finished in Mizunara casks for one and a half years.
BLEND COMPONENTS:
Indiana: 6, 7, & 9 years old
Kentucky: 8 years old
Tennessee: 8 & 14 years old
- A blend of straight bourbon Whiskeys
- Further matured in Mizunara barrels
- Bottled in Kentucky
- 115.52 proof cask strength bottling
DERIVED MASH BILL:
Corn: 76%
Rye: 20%
Malted Barley: 4%
FLAVOR NOTES
An Invigorating nose of fresh strawberry and white peach interweaves with sugar cookies and toasted corn. Vibrant notes of lemongrass and peppermint hit the palate first, then transform to a deep sweetness of Medjool dates followed by an enthralling citrus and woodsy earthiness.
Neat
Appearance: Amber honey.
Nose: Starts with a burst of strawberry, golden raisin, amontillado sherry, and a touch of sawdust. Then sweeter notes of honey, vanilla, sugar cookie, and white peach appear, followed by cocoa, cherry, oiled leather, toasted corn, and palo santo.
Palate: The palate is viscous with herbaceous notes of lemongrass, star anise, and peppermint striking first. Honey, sweet cornbread, and dates appear followed by galangal and a woodsy note.
Finish: Spearmint, palo santo, lime zest, and ginger.
With a splash of spring water
An eruption of sandalwood, palo santo, vanilla, and cherry on the nose. The palate brightens with notes of lemon curd, fresh honey, sweet peppermint, and vanilla ice cream and finishes with ginger and lime zest.
What Gary Says
Nose: Sandalwood, berries, raisins, black cherry, ginger snaps, leather, undertones of caramel and vanilla with a hint of minerality.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, honey, caramel, bright citrus notes leaning from orange or lemon, peppermint, clove and cinnamon.
Finish: Long, warm and slightly drying with peppermint, citrus spice and honey.
Comments: This is a really nice addition to the Cask Finish Series! Love the spiciness on this one, which drinks closer to a rye to me despite the high corn content. The Mizunara wood brings a lovely earth spiciness to the party, and as has been my experience more often than not – the BCS blending team does a superb job of balancing the finishing to not overshadow the main spirit. A bit of water amps up the sandalwood, brings out notes of cherry cola on the nose.