For Batch 023 of its bourbon, Barrell Craft Spirits turned their attention to older barrels. The uncut, unfiltered bourbon is a blend of 10, 12, and 15 year old barrels. The whiskies were distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana.
The whiskey itself, bottled at 107.8 proof (53.89% abv), nicely showcases the older bourbons in the mix without becoming too oaky and dry. There’s some nice spice on the nose. Cinnamon-led, the nose also sees buttery toffee, baking spices, and some fruit – think apricot. On the palate, the spice is more apparent. Like on the nose, baking spices sit on a bed of brown sugar. Some lovely oak tannins develop alongside some dried fruit and tobacco. The long finish features espresso, spice, and dark brown sugar.
The folks at Barrell always release quality spirits. In fact, Batch 021 recently won Best Bourbon (among other accolades) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Batch 023 continues in the tradition of high quality widely available at a reasonable price. This older barrel-forward release is highly recommended!
Thanks to Barrell Craft Spirits for the production sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Adventures In Whiskey 