Barrell Bourbon Batch 019

To mix things up, a friend sent me a set of samples with markings either by shape or a code, making it impossible for me to know their identity until after tasting. Whether I'll confuse a rye for a bourbon or miss a finish entirely, who knows, but I'm eager to discover, so let's continue this blind challenge with the vial marked B6. The aroma is dense and rich, drawing you in with sautéed caramel apples atop fresh waffles, followed by maraschino cherries and a serving of mandarin oranges, transitioning to dark chocolate-covered candied pecans before revealing spices like ginger, cloves, nutmeg, aged leather, and polished mahogany, with a strong ethanol burn. The taste has a medium body, beginning with sautéed caramel apples on fresh waffles topped with Hershey’s dark chocolate syrup, followed by maraschino cherries and a cup of mandarin oranges, then shifting to a sharply drying spice mid-palate before fading into barrel spices of ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cracked aged leather, and medium tannic oak, with a strong ethanol burn. The finish is drying and of medium length, featuring dark chocolate, apple chips, orange peel, ginger, cloves, cracked leather, and tannic oak. The nose seemed incredibly promising with a rich caramel and bold, classic bourbon notes, which carried through to the palate. It started with those robust flavors before a sharp spice emerged, overwhelming and drying my palate with spice and tannic oak, accompanied by a strong ethanol burn, leading to a dry, spicy finish. So, this blind tasting exercise has taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes a higher rye mash bill can be excessively spicy for me. To counteract that intense mid-palate spice, adding a good amount of water can be very helpful. Thus, there's plenty of bourbon left to douse with my water dropper to see if it mellows out. Aha, after 20 drops, I've found the ideal proof to truly enjoy this. The aroma retains the same notes but reveals more butterscotch, with a medium ethanol burn. The taste becomes creamier, with the same flavors, and reduces the harsh mid-palate spice to a mild level, changing the tannic oak to polished mahogany and a medium ethanol burn. The finish is no longer drying but rather creamy, still medium in length, with dark chocolate, caramel apple, blood orange pudding, candied pecans, aged leather, and polished mahogany. Phew, my friend has certainly taught me a lot about bourbons, and I'm very glad they provided two of those Old Ezra 7s for me to learn from. Another excellent one from this blind challenge that was a bit too spicy initially, but the water saved the day. So, what is this fiery whiskey that requires firefighter-level hydration to calm my palate... Barrell Bourbon Batch 019.

This whiskey, a blend from Kentucky and Tennessee, is between 9.5 and 14 years old. While not officially stated, George Dickel is thought to be the Tennessee distillery. It's bottled at 54.7% ABV. On the nose, there's a strong scent of deep caramel and molasses. The taste is full of wood spice, cinnamon, anise, pepper, and clove, with a pleasant caramel and orange sweetness underneath. The finish is lengthy, featuring vanilla and spice. The company's website mentions dark chocolate-covered blueberries on the finish, which, although I wouldn't have identified it myself, feels quite accurate. I rarely add water to spirits, but I did here. A few drops lessened the cinnamon and spice slightly, while boosting the vanilla and oak notes. It also revealed a hint of fruit on the nose. While Batch 019 is excellent straight from the bottle, I enjoyed it more with a small addition of water – it seemed more harmonious to my palate. Whether with water or not, this is a fantastic and intricate bourbon. I'm sure I'll discover more nuances as I finish the bottle. Its complexity and fairly high alcohol content make it a captivating drink that requires attentive sipping, yet it's also smooth enough for casual enjoyment. Overall, it's truly great!

Tasted neat in a Glen Cairn glass, 2 oz. Nose: (4.75) Abundant fruit, like blackberries and ripe plums, simmered in warm, fresh butter. The aroma is incredibly clear and easy to identify, with an interesting grape-like quality. Palate: (4.75) Sweet and rich, best described as melted butter, grape jam, served over warm, homemade biscuits. Some may find it too sweet, but I found it a pleasant digestif. Finish (4.75): Long-lasting and gently warming. It lingers, coating the back of the palate like a grape jolly rancher. The buttery texture provides a wonderful mouthfeel. Overall: Initially, anything from this brand made me hesitant. Combining 9.5 and 12-year-old sourced Tennessee whiskey with sourced Kentucky bourbon sounded like an odd Frankenstein creation, and I was reluctant to spend $80 without trying it. A friend shared a sample, and they were spot on about how good it is. The quality is evident, and I definitely want a bottle now. I'm also not afraid to try their Dovetail, which mixes Rye and Bourbon – something I enjoy if done well, like other examples I could name. Enjoy the jammy goodness with this one!

It has a nice amber hue and slow-moving, viscous legs. Initially, the aroma is pleasant, with fruity, sweet scents. Over the next few minutes, it remains bright but develops warm, rich notes of vanilla iced cinnamon rolls. Oak is also detectable. I don't perceive any ethanol or harshness unless I really press my nose into the glass and inhale deeply. It enters smoothly, with a quick wave of barrel spice, followed by an oily, brown-butter and barrel char finish. The sharp fruit notes from the nose appear as a subdued plum flavor. The spice is not clearly defined but vaguely resembles anise. The finish is buttery, long, and somewhat tannic, emphasizing the wood more than the spirit itself. The complexity I had anticipated is not quite present, but this is a newly opened bottle. What stands out is the lack of additional sweetness or brighter fruit notes that seemed apparent on the nose. For now, it's a mature, viscous, and satisfying drink, but considering the price, it doesn't offer what an ECBP or even a Russel's store pick does. That said, its profile is quite distinct from either of those, and bourbon purists would likely appreciate it. I'll need to revisit it...

Following last week's excellent Barrell rum, I decided to try another Barrell product tonight - this one also shared by a friend. Barrell has been excelling across the board. They offer innovative products like Dovetail, premium ones like their 25-year-old, and have expanded into rum, all executed very well. However, their primary focus remains their bourbon blends. Aside from their three high-end offerings, their entire range is priced around $90, placing them in the mid-to-upper tier of whiskeys. What sets them apart, in my opinion, is the consistent quality from batch to batch. Personally, I don't find them too intense, unlike Booker's, which I always need to dilute heavily with ice. This blend of 9.5 and 14-year-old bourbons from Kentucky and Tennessee is a higher rye bourbon with a classic high-proof taste and a subtle barrel char. The aroma is the highlight: candied nuts and marshmallow. Another successful release from Barrell. If you appreciate classic, old-school bourbon, this should be on your list. Thanks to a friend for the sample!

The aroma has notes of apricot, rum, and plum. The flavors are pleasant, including those from the nose, along with soft oak and bittersweet chocolate. The mouthfeel is decent but lacks the viscosity for a top rating. It drinks at or below the 109 proof mark. It's not an exciting bottle as no particular flavor truly stands out, but it still offers very good, well-presented traditional bourbon characteristics.