Barrell Bourbon Batch 025

Sampled this. The Barrell Bourbon batches I've sampled previously haven't impressed me. Typically, the Dickel component holds the blend back for me. I missed out on Batch 21 that folks raved about. I think I recently tried batch 23 or 24, which was just average. This contains some younger whiskey and seemingly a wheater in the mix. Intriguing. Dickel is prominent. That's always a disappointment for me. I'm not just criticizing Dickel. Dickel 11 BiB is excellent. However, that mineral, Flintstones vitamin character is off-putting most of the time. Trying to look past the Dickel, there's some pleasant caramel and leather. A whisper of cherry. Vanilla cream. Peanut brittle. It's acceptable. Creamy texture, wow, there's a lot of flavor just on the tongue. Cherry cola. Oh, this has more going on than the nose suggested. Seriously. If you've ever been to a place like Frisches Big Boy, they let you add flavors to a Coke. This is like simultaneously adding vanilla, chocolate, and cherry to the Coke. The chocolate really dominates the finish and even leaves a Tootsie Roll-like aftertaste. While the Dickel was dominant on the nose, it's well-integrated in the taste, and I suspect this pleasant chocolate note also comes from the Dickel. Alright, this is the best Barrell I've had so far. I believe this is my fourth batch. It's not good enough that I'll buy a bottle; experiencing it once is sufficient for me. An enjoyable journey, but not worth $80 to repeat. It does, however, reduce my dissatisfaction with the Barrell Bourbon brand, which is a positive outcome.

This has just surpassed Batch 021 as my preferred Barrell Bourbon, and it ranks among my top 10 overall. I admit I have a preference for wheated bourbons. My palate doesn't detect subtle wisps or hints. I perceive flavors as shapes, and this is like being struck by the broad side of a triangle, with a blast of peanut brittle, supported by butterscotch and caramel, followed by vanilla, then diminishing fruit and floral notes, concluding with a small (but impactful) amount of spice. I've now acquired six bottles of this exquisite spirit. I truly hope people continue to overlook Barrell, and I eagerly anticipate their future releases.

Glass: Glencairn, rested for 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Aroma: Caramel and maple syrup. Palate: Cinnamon and baking spice, with a touch of oak and more maple syrup as the dominant flavors fade. Finish: Long and warm, with a sweet clove note. With a splash: No new flavors emerge. Overall: 9/10 - I've had this bottle for a while but hadn't opened it until now. The maple syrup notes are subtle yet distinct. Barrell does not disappoint.

If you appreciate licorice, this will be your all-time favorite. Barrell is currently excelling. I must admit, I personally prefer the Infinite bottle, but you can't go wrong with any Barrell product so far. It's a bit expensive, yes, but definitely a unique experience with every bottle I've sampled. My preferred distiller at the moment. I'm eager to try others; I just acquired a bottle of Dovetail, and that will be next.

Quite pleasant. Didn't quite achieve the depth or thoughtfulness I'd anticipated. The tastes were all good, though there were fewer nuances than I'd thought there would be. Extremely smooth. It was apparent that wheat and rye were present, but distinguishing specific tastes was difficult. Might need another try and adjustment. I'm not unhappy with the purchase, but I'm not in a rush to get another one.

Perhaps the most pleasant-smelling bourbon I've ever encountered. The nose isn't dominated by dark fruit. The taste is similar. It's one of the least caramel-forward bourbons I've ever tried. The finish doesn't quite match the palate. Excellent, though. An extra quarter point is awarded for the uniqueness of the flavors.