Barrell Bourbon Cigar Blend
Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira, Armagnac, Rum and Hungarian Oak Casks
55.6% ABV
$85
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We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
Barrell Cigar Blend Bourbon is a blend of whiskeys aged 7.5 to 18 years finished in Madeira, Armagnac, rum, and Hungarian oak casks, delivering layered notes of dark fruit, molasses, and warm spice. Refined yet expressive, it’s equally compelling with or without a cigar—crafted for slow sipping, long conversations, and a finish designed to linger.
Boston cream pie and grape soda announce that you’re in for a dark, sweet, brandy-inflected bourbon. The barrels have imparted everything from cedar chest to pipe tobacco and pu’er tea. Hungarian oak’s gentle cola spices pervade every part of the drinking experience while the Madeira adds pecan pie to the palate and sweet vermouth to the finish.
APPEARANCE: Maple syrup.
NOSE: The heady, piquant scent of crusty sourdough bread strikes first. A distinctly fruity note plays second fiddle to the toffee, pipe tobacco and dusty cedar chest of the cask’s themselves. The oxidized wine imparts walnuts, dry autumn leaves, and leather of rancid, going as far as miso in the savory direction. As the whiskey breathes, pastries emerge ranging from sticky buns and eclairs to sweet potato pie. Fruits resolve into pear, persimmon, and a splash of grape soda.
PALATE: Warm cola with the cinnamon dialed up. Slightly burnt cornbread, pistachio ice cream, and a vanilla so pungent it’s perfume-like. The texture is big, rich and chewy, full of oils, sugars and tannins. The Armagnac makes its presence felt with dried cherries and dates while the oak brings notes of pu’er tea, and fernet. Underneath that earthiness one finds a bit of dried mushroom and soy sauce.
FINISH: The combination of oak, spice and fortified wine reads as sweet vermouth, as if you’re swallowing a sip of Manhattan. Clove is particularly potent, as is juniper berry and cocoa powder. There’s a rich mineral vein running through it containing slate and salt. As it lingers there’s ample opportunity to focus on facets of rosehips, cinchona bark, black truffle and incense.
WITH A SPLASH OF SPRING WATER: The nose is awash with butterscotch hard candy. Beneath it, it’s mostly the fruits which have been shuffled about, now reading as Mirabelle plum, honeydew melon, and hint of sun-dried tomato. On the palate the rum emerges showing a very clear molasses note backed up by café au lait and cinchona bark.
- A blend of straight bourbon whiskeys aged 7.5 to 18 years
- Distilled in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana
- Finished in Madeira, Armagnac, rum, and Hungarian oak casks
- Bottled at 111.2 proof
- Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
What Gary Says
Nose: Musty cigar paper, toffee, dark fruit notes give way to baked pears, light roasted coffee, cedar, oak, worn leather and vanilla.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with vanilla, black cherry, caramel, brown sugar, honey, oak, cinnamon, pepper spice and a bit of cloves.
Finish: Moderate in length with caramel, rouge vermouth, cocoa and oak.
Comments: When I think of ‘cigar blend’ whiskies, I imagine a whiskey that reminds me a bit of a cigar as well as one I might enjoy simultaneously with a cigar (although this latter is a bit of a stretch for me, as despite several attempts I don’t happen to enjoy cigars – so I’m guessing a bit on this front). The nose on this definitely brings images of a cigar that hasn’t yet been lit (or ‘spiced up’ Arnold Schwarzenegger style; thanks to Big Rich for sharing that video!) But it isn’t one dimensional, and the bourbon shines through along with the wine cask influence, and some hallmarks of well aged whiskey (note not ALL age on whiskey is “well aged”) like worn leather. This is an absolute gem – sips brilliantly neat but also opens up really nicely with a few drops of water (bringing notes of figs and butterscotch). The folks at Barrell Craft Spirits have a long track record of blending and finishing some amazing whiskies, and this is another great example!