Barrell Bourbon Batch 030
58.66% 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 030 began with a group of tropical fruit forward 5-year-old Indiana barrels, a group of stone fruit forward 10-year-old high-rye Tennessee barrels, and a group of nutty 6, 9, 11, and 15-year-old barrels. After mingling separately for a month, they were carefully blended together. Finally, wheated bourbon from Kentucky and Wyoming was added to enhance the complexity of the blend.
- A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
- Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Wyoming
- Selection of 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 15-year-old barrels
- Aged in American white oak barrels
- Bottled in Kentucky
- 117.32 proof cask strength bottling
FLAVOR NOTES
An old-school bourbon that deftly balances the individuality of its many sources, incorporating notes of bright French cider with an array of subtle herbs, florals, and the richness of pumpkin pie. The oak is restrained, suggesting coconut and baking spices without overshadowing the spirit’s innate complexity.
Neat
Appearance: Rich and golden with a bright hue and a striking viscosity.
Nose: Bright and perfumed notes of French cider, inflected with quince and a touch of apple cider vinegar. As your nose adjusts, peach cobbler, pumpkin and fig take over. There’s an earthy side, displaying radishes and butter, tahini, and damp wool. The oak brings coconut macaroon, coriander, and peppermint, without smelling woodsy.
Palate: A sweet and tightly focused entry, tasting of coffee ice cream in an oatmeal raisin cookie sandwich. Basil, fennel seed, and a whole mug of chai round out the herb & spice register. Fruits are subtle but delightfully tropical, around orange curacao, pawpaw, and toasted coconut.
Finish: A burst of caramel and milk chocolate overwhelms the palate. As it fades, the tongue is left with rich, almost fatty notes of orgeat, chestnut honey, and beeswax. An exhale through the nose carries quite opulent aromas of molasses and fig..
With a few drops of spring water
While water usually subdues the oak, here it dials up, introducing crushed walnut, new leather, and a wisp of bonfire smoke. The palate, too, hews darker, with milk chocolate dominating the profile through the finish until only a lingering note of candied rose petal remains.
What Gary Says
Nose: Caramel apples, fall leaves, toffee, oak, pumpkin spice with a hint of tarragon.
Palate: Rich with chocolate, caramel, hazelnuts, cinnamon, bit of clove, coffee cake, hints of orange zest and anise.
Finish: Moderately long, damp with oak, caramel and chocolate.
Comments: This batch absolutely has a ‘fall vibe’ going on. No, this isn’t “Pumpkin Spiced Bourbon” – it’s subtle (I mean, the main spices in a typical ‘Pumpkin Pie Spice’ blend are cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, and allspice; ginger doesn’t pop up as often as the rest, but hopefully you get the point). It goes even further with some water bringing out notes of cranberries (as well as leather and toasted walnuts). As I love fall, I’m really digging this blend – and continue to be impressed with their tasting notes (the best, most consistently reliable that I’ve seen). .