Barrell Armida

Nose - black cherry, orange vitamin, lemon, allspice, grass, cardamom, banana, pear, yeast, chocolate, butterscotch, vanilla, dry oak, brown sugar, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - butterscotch, dry herbal notes, cherry, orange vitamin, vanilla, spiced apple, brown sugar, pear, dry oak, allspice, allspice, chocolate, hazelnut, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with butterscotch, dry oak, and herbal flavors. Next up on the Barrell journey is the Armida release. This is a very unique bourbon! The first thing I notice is that Dickel orange vitamin note. I don’t dislike the Dickel profile as much as some, but I don’t love it either. I can’t identify all the finishes on the nose, but the rum influence is quite apparent from the banana, allspice, and grassy characteristics. The palate is surprisingly dry and earthy. The Dickel is right there again alongside some powdery nuttiness. Overall, this is good, but I wish it weren’t as dry and herbaceous. I suspect they went a bit overboard with the finishing. There’s some quality whiskey underneath, but it feels slightly unfocused. Regardless, this is very drinkable, and it’s certainly a distinctive take on bourbon that I’m glad to have experienced. A big thank you to a provider for the generous sample!

Another day, another Barrell... the master blenders have outdone themselves with a bottle that promises deliciousness... whiskey, rum, brandy, and why not add a unique Sicilian liqueur for flair? Let's see how this concoction fares. The aroma isn't typical whiskey. Rum, yes... brandy, yes... but where's the whiskey? I'm bracing for a Captain Morgan-like taste, but hopefully, it's better. The first taste is a relief. There's definitely a strong rum sweetness upfront. The mid-palate offers hints of raisin from the brandy, which seem to carry into the finish. A pleasant, mild cinnamon warmth is present at the end. It leaves a lingering apricot taste that doesn't quite work for me. Overall, it's just average. For the price point, average isn't sufficient. This doesn't meet the Barrell standard in my opinion. Given the many excellent Barrell selections available, I'd suggest leaving this one on the shelf unless you're particularly fond of experimental finishes. If that's the case, grab one and enjoy the experience.

Aroma: caramel, with underlying corn notes. It brings to mind white dog whiskey right from the still. Adding a little water revealed cherry and brown sugar, and the pear emerged. Taste: not as sweet as anticipated. I don't detect any rum or brandy (perhaps my palate isn't refined enough?). A drop of water significantly increased the sweetness, bringing out abundant caramel. It's a 'baking' type of sweetness... possibly a bit artificial. Finish: long, even through the nose. A bitter sensation lingers on the back of the tongue. As expected, a touch of water softened it and noticeably shortened the finish. Abundant caramel notes persist for 10-15 seconds after swallowing. Overall: I'm not a great fan. It requires water to truly unveil its diverse flavor profiles and diminish the ethanol that could overwhelm the palate. I'm glad I tried it, but it won't be a frequent purchase. It will, however, add some interesting complexity to the infinity bottle.

This one is rather intriguing and might grow on me over time. Butterscotch candy notes on the nose, but a clear impact from the finishing casks. The fruit I detect is apricot rather than pear (one of the finishing casks is pear brandy). The rum cask influence is also noticeable, but the Amaro element is lost on me initially. This carries to the palate (apricot jam) with a touch of bitterness (the Amaro cask?). A good amount of heat concludes the sip. The finish is medium, featuring butterscotch and apricot jam. It's high proof but not overly apparent, except for the warmth at the end. I prefer it with a bit of water, which makes it more palatable without sacrificing its character, primarily just taming the heat.

A friend's brother recently hosted a bourbon tasting night while I was visiting my family on the east coast. We sampled many bottles — all of which I either loved or liked. He had this Barrell Armida available, and although it wasn't part of the tasting, he wanted our opinions on it. Well... We all agreed it was not very good. It has a strange, unpleasant taste that none of us could identify or move past. He was hoping I would like it so he could unload it on me. LOL! I've always avoided Barrell. It's usually overpriced and seems too focused on "experimentation." As such, I've never felt confident spending my money on it. Perhaps there are better expressions from Barrell, but I'm not willing to risk it. Not after this experience.

You’d anticipate an exotic aroma, and that's precisely what you get. Brandy comes through with pear, sawdust, cinnamon, chalk, swirling tropical notes, and…ham? If I didn't know better, I might think this was a cognac. Palate has much to live up to and manages to deliver. Once you register the pear and wood char, there’s honeyed pineapple, a dusting of baking spices, milky vanilla, and a slightly metallic copper note. The amaro influences are present as a hovering savory, herbal cloud in the background. The finish is oaky and herbal, pine or sagebrush or mesquite, something from the amari making its presence felt. A unique bourbon suited for dry heat, adobe and adventure.