barrell bourbon "trust but verify"

The color is a striking copper orange, matching the orange Barrell label. The hue reminds me of the first edition copper offered by Land Rover. The nose is lighter than expected, with sweet notes of light butterscotch, marshmallow, and sweet melon. The initial sip has a little heat, but not what you'd anticipate from a dram made up of 20% 5-year, 50% 7-year, 20% 10-year, and 10% 17-year spirits at 120.48 proof. The second sip has a light, viscous feel, transitioning to a quick drying sensation in the mouth. You experience rich flavors of maple syrup, molasses, and Snickers nugget and caramel. (Imagine a Snickers with no nuts – how fantastic is that?). There's a slight black pepper and leather on the finish, but nothing extreme like you get from 10+ year oak-heavy spirits. It has just the right amount of tannins. Additional notes include toasted oak, graham cracker, and butter. This drinks very similarly to an ECTB but at a higher (though not noticeable) proof. This is a dangerously smooth dram; you could easily mistake it for a lower proof based on the mouthfeel and quickly get into trouble. Overall, it's a great pour. If you're a fan of Barrell, you won't be disappointed. If you enjoy higher proofs and great sweet profiles, you won't be disappointed. However, for me personally, this whiskey lacks some complexity; it's not a flavor explosion or a wild ride. This makes it a very suitable and accessible whiskey for most drinkers. Lastly, the only thing this whiskey could benefit from is a slightly heavier mouthfeel. Personally, I prefer a more oily/rich mouthfeel. Overall score: 4 out of 5