Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Amburana (Release 001)

Aroma - incredible. Smells like apple pie, cinnamon sticks, apple cider, snickerdoodle cookies, and a Christmas gingerbread house.…. This is the essence of Fall in a glass.. If Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Apple Cinnamon Cheerios had offspring, they would smell like this. There's absolutely no hint of alcohol. A tremendous nose, but it smells exceptionally sweet, making me slightly apprehensive about the palate. This is an outstanding aroma. Taste - Everything from the aroma transfers to the palate. Apples, cinnamon toast crunch, Fall spices. Vanilla and a powerful blast of alcohol that balances all those sweet notes. Overall - I'm a fan of BCS.. and this one is truly phenomenal. The finish on this is likely one of the longest I've ever experienced in a whiskey. The ABV is absolutely perfect for my palate. This release might not appeal to everyone.. it's bold and assertive. I can imagine many bourbon enthusiasts might dislike this, while many finished whiskey fans would adore it. 5.0

Amburana is the hot new finish this year. It's a South American hardwood native to Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. Like Mizunara from Japan, it imparts a very unique flavor of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. My only prior encounter with Amburana was with a TRE Teeling, which I felt was a marketing ploy. This one is not. However... being a bit cautious, I only bought a sample through a tasting kit. It's a blend of KY and IN bourbons, between 5-10 years old. Respectable enough. So, getting to the point—is it worth a bottle or should I stick with a sample? The nose is all dessert. Apple cinnamon strudel. I hope this won't be overly sweet. Taste... wow. Nutmeg, apples, cinnamon, ginger. All in a pastry dough. Like... pumpkin pie?!!! This is autumn in a glass. Do yourself a favor—buy this—the price is affordable and it's right in tune with the season. I just bought a bottle... it's probably the best bourbon I've had in months.

Forget pumpkin spice, this is the essence of fall. A wonderfully intricate and spicy aroma. The Amburana cask performs admirably, contributing a celebratory fragrance to the bourbon. The taste mirrors this with a sweet, nutty, tropical character, sharing similarities with spiced rum. Its high proof maintains cohesion and highlights vibrant esters that would be muted at lower proofs. The lengthy finish concludes with a cinnamon note, offering satisfaction from beginning to end.

First pours. The Amburana cask is working its magic here, enhancing the cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla on the nose and palate. The whiskey itself is also impressive. It's balanced, semi-sweet, and viscous, with added honey and hints of orange marmalade and nuts. The finish is lengthy, and the Amburana again comes to the forefront with intense baking spices. It's nearly perfect right from the start.

If you enjoy chocolate and a distinctive herbal flavor with a cola-like fizz, this is it. It is also quite tannic, which is the opposite of what I like. I think it is superior to Vantage, and the amburana is not too strong. I might rate it higher after more sips.

Nose: captivating scents of cinnamon spiced bread pudding or crème brûlée. Couldn't stop smelling this one. Among my top 3 ever for aroma. Palate: some proof right away but fades quickly to sweet creamy egg custard laced with a heavy burst of cinnamon. Lengthy finish.