Barrell Bourbon Batch 023
53.89% 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 023 is a blend of 10, 12 and 15-year-old barrels. We focused on a balance of richness and depth from the older barrels. The blend mingled for a couple of months to heighten the lushness and complexity. Finally, we methodically layered in 15-year-old barrels to bring out notes of tropical fruit and angelica spice. The result is an evolving bourbon with layers of flavor.
- A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
- Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana
- Selection of 10, 12, and 15-year-old barrels
- Aged in American white oak barrels
- Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
- 107.78 proof cask strength bottling
- Mash bill: corn, rye and malted barley
FLAVOR NOTES
Cinnamon donuts lead into earthy notes of walnut, leather, and fallen leaves. Subtly fruity, with hints of white currant and honeydew melon peeking out over the classic rye spice of angelica, catnip and black licorice.
Neat
Appearance: A core of zincite ore fades to pale yellow.
Nose: Opens sweetly, on buttered pancakes with maple syrup and cinnamon donuts. Gradually the aroma shifts to exotic, earthy notes of forest floor, cracked walnut, leather, red miso, and incense. Fruits feel ancillary, but kiwi, white currant, mulled cider and raspberry pastille all make an appearance. The rye spice is pronounced, lending bay leaf, angelica and chocolate mint.
Palate: Gently sweet with chewy tannin, the evolution on the palate mirrors the nose. Honey, coffee cake and a touch of brownie taking the lead. Dry rose follows, on walnut shell, fallen leaves and portobello mushroom; reminiscent of an old Oloroso sherry. There’s a juicy brightness that makes notes of honeydew melon, grenadine and orange zest come alive.
Finish: Cinnamon donut accompanied by nocino, black licorice and tar. As it fades, it softens to leather, orange peel and apple blossom.
With a few drops of spring water
Fresh, with a bright sea salt note rounded out by oregano and catnip. The palate grows creamier, tasting of cereal milk.
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, vanilla, oaky brown sugar, maple candies, burnt brownie corners, bit of barbecue sauce, cinnamon, walnuts, hints of dark fruits with worn leather.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, chocolate covered cherries dipped in caramel, vanilla, honey with nutty notes of dark fruits and oak.
Finish: Moderately long, slightly drying with cocoa and oak.
Comments: This is a damn nice bourbon. Really rich and chewy with intense flavor; sweet but with just enough of a savory slant to keep it well balanced. Takes water quite well. I try not to read the provided tasting notes until after I’ve made my assessment to avoid bias, and not afraid to admit when their notes are better than mine (although we all get different things from a dram). Their notes of coffee cake, sherry and donut are right on.
The word ‘blend’ can mean different things in the world of whiskey. Here in the US, a ‘blended whiskey’ allows for the inclusion of ‘grain neutral spirits’ (or GNS). To be clear, that isn’t what these folks do. This is a blend of straight bourbon whiskies. Blending is an art, and when done well, creates a unique product that can be more interesting (and delicious) than any of the individual components. While I haven’t tried the individual components used here, I can attest that this is done really well.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try
