June 2024

Barrell Bourbon Batch 036

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon Batch 036

57.2% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 036 Whiskey
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

A multi-mashbill blend was created by combining full-bodied barrels with black cherry notes and oak-forward barrels with a nutty flavor profile. After these mingled, younger barrels with stone fruit and peppery highlights were added to the blend. Lastly, older barrels with notes of milk chocolate, cinnamon and pecans were carefully layered in. The result is an elegant bourbon that is opulent on the finish.

BLEND COMPONENTS:
Indiana: 7.5, 8, & 10 years old
Kentucky: 9 years old
Tennessee: 8 & 15 years old

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 114.4 proof cask strength bottling

DERIVED MASH BILL:
Corn: 79%
Rye: 16%
Malted Barley: 5%

FLAVOR NOTES
A satisfying nose of honey, fresh citrus, cherry jam, and snickerdoodles fuse with deeper notes of Kuromitsu and cinchona bark. Notes of caramel, chocolate and pecan pie warm up the palate before citrus zest and cherry cordial coalesce with a wave of pepper, cardamom, and cinnamon.

​Neat
Appearance: Tawny.
Nose: The aroma starts with honey, lime, tangerine, and apricot, then evolves into cherry jam, Marcona almonds and buttermilk pancakes. Notes of Snickerdoodle cookies, Kuromitsu, chocolate mint, and a touch of cinchona bark emerge followed by subtle notes of fresh citrus.
Palate: The palate starts out rich with notes of caramel, cherry cola, pecan pie and chocolate torte, followed by citrus zest and cherry cordial. Hints of pepper and cardamom flicker throughout the mid and back palate followed by a dusting of cacao, Saigon cinnamon and oranges.
Finish: Cinnamon, white pepper, citrus zest, and cherry.
With a splash of spring water
The aroma expands to Hufsie spiced tea loaf, mead, brown butter cookies, and cinnamon doughnuts. The palate becomes more decadent with notes of salted caramel latte, baklava, and streusel. The finish coats your mouth with notes of cinnamon orange coffee cake and a touch of oak.

What Gary Says

Nose: Baked goods, caramel, cinnamon, mixed raw nuts, cherry, and a hint of cocoa and oak.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with honey, caramel, toffee, milk chocolate, cherries with cinnamon, and an orange zest zip.
Finish: Long and thick with cherry cola, cinnamon, and honey.
Comments: I continue to be amazed at how both major distilleries and blending houses achieve consistency over large periods with innumerable variables. That said, I’ve got mad admiration for what the folks at Barrell Craft Spirits do working with some of the same major distilleries (and smaller ones) to create unique batches. Some I like more than others, although I can’t recall any that I didn’t care for. This is in the ‘more than others’ camp. A fine bourbon to sit back and sip on neat during a summer evening, or over a cube. This opens up nicely if you’re patient and give it some time in the glass – which I know isn’t always easy. And while I enjoyed what they’ve put inside the bottle – also worth noting is a change to their label design which makes the batch number more prominent. As my eyes aren’t getting any younger, I really like that update! I also found this to make a superb Old Fashioned.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 18

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 18
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

57% ABV
$65
Website
Penelope Bourbon Barrel Strength Batch 18
We would like to thank Luxco for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Penelope Barrel Strength is bourbon in its purest form. Completely uncut and non-chill filtered, our barrel strength bourbon is just as delicious and even more powerful than our signature Four Grain blend.
Each batch of our Barrel Strength is blended from three bourbon mash bills and aged in hand-selected new American oak barrels, imparting notes of caramel syrup and subtle barrel char and pushing the boundaries of our Four Grain’s balanced flavor profile.

Mash Bill: 80% Corn | 8% Rye | 9% Wheat | 3% Malted Barley
Blend of three straight bourbon mash bills distilled in Indiana
Proof: 114
Aged 4 – 6 Years
Uncut & Non Chill-Filtered | Aged 4 – 6 Years

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Mandarin orange, with hints of vanilla
BODY: Brown sugar, cherry, and sweetened apricot
FINISH: Long finish with soft cinnamon powder and slight spice

What Gary Says

Nose: Blood orange, vanilla, honey, nutty with dark chocolate (and an aroma I can only describe as the Boston Baked Beans candy).
Palate: Chocolate-covered cherries, cinnamon, salted caramel, orange marmalade, nutmeg, and pepper.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with cinnamon, honey, and pepper spice.
Comments: For a barrel-strength bourbon, this is very light in color (lighter than the Penelope Toasted Series Batch 24-301). I really dig the Boston Baked Beans note on the nose (and if you’ve never had that candy, I’m sorry someone wronged you in your childhood by failing to introduce you) which is the first time I’ve gotten that note from any whisk(e)y. While it’s a nice enough pour, I was hoping for more. The low proof for barrel strength (as well as lightness in color) leads me to believe this was matured on a lower-level rickhouse where it didn’t get as much action from the barrel. It’s gentle for a barrel-strength bourbon.

Rating: Stands Out

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Penelope Toasted Series Batch 24-301

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Penelope Toasted Series Batch 24-301
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$70
Website
Penelope Toasted Series Batch 24-301 Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Our Toasted Series is a testament to the power of serendipity. When we began to explore toasted finishes, we weren’t expecting each barrel to be so different — so we decided to embrace this variety of chars and toasts that make every bottle in our Toasted Series truly one-of-a-kind.

After full maturation in charred new American oak barrels, Penelope Bourbon is finished in a new, hand-toasted barrel. While it can be hard to predict the flavor profile of each bottle in our Toasted Series, the deep notes of vanilla imbued by the toasting process add another dimension to our signature flavor profile. Whether you’re into a Heavy Toast or Medium, our Toasted Series
truly offers something for everyone.

That’s the serendipity of Penelope.

Type & Proof: Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 100 Proof | Non Chill-Filtered | Aged 4 Years
Process: Straight bourbon whiskey finished in a new, freshly toasted barrel.
Toasted Barrel: Char 5 | Heavy Toast
Mash Bill: 74% Corn | 21% Rye | 5% Malted Barley

AROMA: Brown sugar and cinnamon breakfast pastry
BODY: Vanilla and graham cracker with hints of dried cherry fruit
FINISH: Savory roasted marshmallow finish and slight spice

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, subtle cinnamon rolls, toasted marshmallow, cornbread and charred oak.
Palate: Vanilla wafers, honey, caramel, cinnamon, apples, cherries and oranges.
Finish: Moderate in length, syrupy with cinnamon, nutmeg and honey.
Comments: I do get the cinnamon roll note but not nearly to the extent as with Penelope Rio. Overall, this is a very nice pour. Nothing off-putting to me other than the price tag which seems high (thinking of another very well established bourbon brand that offers a ‘toasted barrel’ variety at slightly less proof but more age for a lower price). Now if you’re a whisk(e)y geek, finding batches with different toasting levels and comparing contrasting those would be different and unique (and not something you could do with the other brand) – so that may be worth a premium. A bit of water brings out more honey and graham cracker notes, which I do enjoy – although this is quite nice neat as well.

Rating: Stands Out

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Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 3

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Batch 3
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46.2% ABV
$300 – $370
Website
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Batch 3 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery Says

From the Ardbeg Distillery to Port Ellen and beyond, follow the rocky coast and you will discover the heavenly vista of Traigh Bhan (pronounced tri-van), the beautiful beach known locally as the Singing Sands…
For this captivating place has white soft sands that sing beneath your feet, a hum that ebbs and flows with the winds and the tides. But beguiling as this place is, do not drop your guard. Bathing is ill advised in the seemingly tame crystal waters where jagged, volcanic rocks pierce the sands along the shore.
CURLS AND WISPS
Scented wood smoke billows, mingling with sea spray carried on the air. Wisps of pine resin, aniseed toffee and sweet lilies follow on the breeze. A flood of fresh citrus zest with a touch of cayenne pepper piques the senses, while a splash of water chases in a flow of waxy notes and charcoal, with droplets of classic Sherry and linseed oil.
TIDES OF CHANGE
A rush of rich, sappy texture is followed moments later by classic, sweet, smokiness, with tarry rope and treacle toffee bobbing on the palate. A second wave brings a ripple of soot and aniseed twists. Smoke is distant now but present, while smoked brown sugar, sugar coated walnuts and gentle spices float gently then dissolve. A long, unhurried finish carries bitter almonds, linseed oil, clove, pepper and soot in its wake, slowly drifting away.
Batch No. TB/03-10.10.01/21/BL

What Gary Says

Nose: Peat smoke, salty sea air, coastal camp fire, creosote, tar, smoked pork, hints of grapefruit, tangerines, nylon rope and wet bandages.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, vanilla, peaches, pears, peat and cracked pepper.
Finish: Moderately long and wet with fruit, peat smoke and tobacco.
Comments: I’m a fan of Ardbeg, and to me this is a lovely, complex, nuanced dram. The meaty, smokey, brininess on the nose just transports me to what I imagine it must be like to have an open-pit fire on an Islay beach. A bit of water brings out caramel crème and honey on the palate. While I enjoy it, at this price point I’m not a buyer.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Joseph Magnus Private Barrel Bourbon Finished in Sherry Casks

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Joseph Magnus Exclusive Private Barrel Bourbon
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sherry Casks

51% ABV
$100-$130 (varies by age/retailer)
Website
Joseph Magnus Bourbon Exclusive Private Barrel

What the Producer Says

Jos. A. Magnus is pleased to offer a limited private barrel selection program. Contact us for more information.
NOTE: This bottle was selected for/by Tower Beer, Win & Spirits

What Gary Says

Nose: Dark fruit, vanilla wafers, salted caramel, raisins, smoke, leather and oak.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, cherry vanilla cola, orange zest with a bit of grapefruit, cinnamon and chili spice.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with black cherry cough syrup and smoke.
Comments: I’m a fan of sherried whiskey, and this is a nice representation of that. Cherry cola isn’t a note I get often, and ironically I don’t like cherry cola, but I do dig that note in my whiskey! A bit of water brings some rickhouse must out on the nose, and the fruit notes start bending towards citrus. This would be a nice cigar smoking bourbon.

Rating: Stands Out

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