Barrell Bourbon

Barrell Bourbon Batch 014 Review

I get excited when a new batch of Barrell Bourbon arrives at my doorstep. The folks making this aren’t looking for consistency between batches like most big time labels. Contrarily, each batch is unique in flavor profile. That allows the blender a nearly unlimited playground to play with when creating a new batch. That, to me, is exciting.

Barrel Bourbon Batch 014 started life with some 9-year-old barrels from Batch 012. A parcel of 9-year-old bourbon barrels were added and topped off with some 14-year-old bourbon. Like all of the company’s releases, Barrell Bourbon Batch 014 is bottled at cask strength. In this case we’re talking 109.4 proof. All the whiskies in this batch were distilled in Tennessee and Kentucky.

The rich nose features hints of caramel corn, vanilla extract, sweet oak, and a touch of herbs and some floral notes. Taste-wise, there is lots going on here. Cinnamon sticks and cardamon kick things off, leading to waves of toffee, butterscotch, rye spice and fruit. Tobacco and leather develop in the mid-palate along with toasted oak and a small blast of refreshing spearmint. The finish is long with hints of caramelized fruit, spice, and oak.

I’ve gotta say this has hit a sweet spot for my palate. It’s built upon classic bourbon flavors with the fruit and spice notes dialed up a notch. Barrell Bourbon’s winning streak continues. Highly recommended! 8.5/10

Barrellbourbon.com

Thanks to Barrell Bourbon for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 013 Whiskey Review


The folks at Barrell Bourbon have most certainly ramped up production.  New batches are coming in quicker than they used to, or so it seems.  Thankfully, quality has not been sacrificed.  That is true of this latest release, Batch 013.

A batching of 5-year-old bourbon from Indiana and 5- and 8-year-old high rye bourbon from Tennessee, Barrell Bourbon Batch 013 is presented at the brand’s signature cask strength.  In this case, we’re looking at 113 proof.

The nose features hints of kettle corn, cinnamon, and buttered toast with a touch of feint oak.  Taste-wise, Batch 013 offers a classic bourbon experience.  By that I mean sweet corn, spice and vanilla.  Those flavors are presented in a cohesive, balanced manner.  Surprisingly, the young-ish 5-year-old Indiana bourbon component doesn’t dominate the palate, but its big corn note does shine in this whisky’s finish.  On the mid-palate, a creaminess appears, as well as orange zest.  The warming finish features sweet corn and cinnamon sugar. 

At the end of the day, Barrell Bourbon Batch 013 is a delicious, corn-forward (though not corn-dominated) bourbon.  It’s not among my favorite releases from Barrell, but it’s still nice.  I haven’t had a bad batch yet, and I don’t expect to.  Barrell founder Joe Beatrice would probably rather quit his job than release a sub-par whiskey.  7.5/10

Barrellbourbon.com

Thanks to Barrell Bourbon for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Barrell Rye Batch 001 Whiskey Review

The folks at Barrell Craft Spirits have finally answered my prayers with the release of their first batch of rye whiskey.  This initial batch is aged 4.5 years and features rye whiskies distilled in Indiana and Tennessee.  A combination of  “sweeter malted barley rye barrels and spicy high rye barrels”, Barrell Rye Batch 001 comes across as a bit different than you’re used to.  I’ll explain in my tasting notes below.  Barrell Rye is bottled at a cask strength of 58.5% abv, or 117 proof, to preserve the full character of the spirit.

Rye grain is at the forefront of both the nose and palate.  On the nose, the whiskey comes across as rich and buttery as well as spicy.  Here, the spice I refer to is cinnamon and allspice.  A bit of caramel and a touch of vanilla extract round out the nose.  On entry, an initial blast of buttery toffee transitions into waves of spice, butterscotch, and slightly herbaceous notes.  The interplay of sweet and spice is nice here.  The finish is long, with slightly sweet toasted rye bread and dark malt lingering.

It seems the intention with Barrell Rye Batch 001 is to put a spotlight on the grain.  That is partially accomplished with the young age.  What makes this release unique is the blending of two completely different types of rye whiskies.  The end result is a grain-forward rich, sweet and spicy rye whiskey.  While not utterly complex, Barrell Rye Batch 001 is immensely enjoyable.  Part of the fun is realizing you’re drinking something just a bit different than you’re used to.  7.5/10

Barrellbourbon.com