Barrell Bourbon Batch 007

Nose - (without water) Cinnamon caramel, sweet oak, brown sugar syrup, faint sweet mint stems. (with water) A bit brighter and opens up, but otherwise the same. Taste - (without water) Quite hot, sweet intense cinnamon spice, rich syrupy caramel, hint of sweet red cherries. (with water) Heat is delayed, more cinnamon cherry followed by a wave of dark brown simple syrup, heat appears at the end with cinnamon spice and a light oaky sweetness. Finish - (without water) Lingering spicy caramel, heat persists, cherry and lightly oaky brown simple syrup. (with water) Less heat, more cherry caramel in addition to the dark brown simple syrup. Score - 84/100 Final Thoughts - This is pretty standard and much like what you'd expect from a bourbon. It's just a bit higher in proof and definitely benefits from a little water, which softens the heat slightly and makes it a bit more like brown simple syrup sweet rather than cinnamon heat. Nothing truly spectacular, but nothing truly bad either. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Smells like sweet walnuts. The proof is evident on the nose. Initially on the tongue it's smooth and sweet, the heat doesn't hit you until later. Syrupy, nutty, with wood notes, spice, dark chocolate, and bitters on the end. The finish is potent but doesn't linger, it begs for another sip. Fantastic pour. 3/3/17 Almost 7 months after opening this bottle, and I'm down to the last quarter. Distinct cinnamon on the nose, sweet and nutty. Great aroma. Sweet up front, you also get wood and licorice. The heat cascades, as does the spice. The rye notes really shine, much more than when the bottle was new. Orange peel and cacao nibs towards the end. The spice and slight bitterness linger a bit. Sharp Kentucky hug. This has developed with air time. Still delicious. 9/29/17 Almost 4 years later (different bottle)... big red on the nose. Nutty on the palate, very. Interestingly, some young notes I don't remember from last time... including some corny notes on the nose that have developed. Pecan nibs at the end, some bitterness. Slight downgrade from last time. 5/15/21

It's been a while since I've tried this. Perhaps it has improved because it was better than I recalled. The aroma isn't particularly remarkable, but the taste is certainly distinctive. Very sweet with citrus (more like lemon than orange?), cinnamon, and honey. A nice warmth on the finish. I purchased a single barrel and was curious to compare, so I'm glad I did.

Intense aromas of corn and fake honey on entry. Fleeting notes of orange rind and clove. Dilution lessens the strong alcohol character, revealing a bit more vanilla. A sub-par offering from the BB collection.

The heat strikes powerfully at first, but it mellows into a quite enjoyable drink once your palate adapts. Pleasant notes of orange zest and vibrant cherry define this pour. It’s a distinct variation from previous barrel releases.

Intriguing, yet this batch doesn't stand out. It's sweet but somewhat harsh, lacking subtlety and polish. It's drinkable, but I wouldn't pay $90 for this particular batch.