Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon 15 Year (2020 Release)

Rating: 19/23 Nose: I detect the proof, but not harsh alcohol. It has substantial, toasted wood, but doesn't seem over-oaked or one-dimensional. Barrel spices are prominent. Lots of sweet peanuts, with a little sweet corn. The faintest hint of orange. A dry, tart cherry note leads into slightly bitter, faintly grassy herbs. The age is evident, the balance is excellent, and the aromas are well-rounded with considerable subtlety, though I wouldn't say the nose is exceptionally complex. Palate: Sweet with bold wood. Plenty of barrel spices. The mouthfeel isn't as thick as I anticipated. The proof stands out. As I swirl it, some herbs and peanut emerge. Less peanut than expected, but still a good amount. There's a surprising bitter layer. The wood is a bit dry and slightly over-oaked, pushing a peanut shell character a bit too far. A dry, pure barrel spice character appears at times, transforming into heavy minerals like hard water residue - or a more intense version of Dickel's vitamin funk. Some apple flavors are present, but I'm not really getting the orange and cherry from the nose. Perhaps a hint of floral cherry at moments, but very faint. Finish: Dry, bitter wood. A little lingering sweetness. Definitely the barrel spices. This part of the experience is unfortunately forgettable. - Conclusion - My initial impression is that this is on par with Resilient 15 Barrel #124 (18/23). It's quite enjoyable, but it's certainly not amazing me. I do prefer the sweetness here, but overall, I get a similar Dickel profile from this. This is also quite comparable to Booker's Shiny Barrel (19/23). I do appreciate the smoothness and mellow maturity, but it's also less full-bodied. I'd also place this at a similar level to Old Forester 1920 (18/23), though the styles differ significantly. I find the Old Forester genuinely sweet and decadent, whereas this has some pleasant sweetness, but it's partly masked by a bitter layer, and the minerality prevents it from being big, bold, and decadent. The nuance, however, is quite nice, with the spices sometimes displaying a refined elegance. I'm including this primarily as a validation check, and indeed, it surpasses Uncle Nearest 1864 (15/23, though I now think it might be closer to a 16-17). As a secondary validation, this is undoubtedly better than I.W. Harper 15 (14/23). On the other hand, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (21/23) continues to dominate. Perhaps this could reach a 20, but a 21 would be very difficult to justify. After all this, I believe this must be either an 18 or a 19. I appreciate all the mature nuance, but the over-oaked layer and the vitamin-like minerality aren't really working for me. And at this proof, I expect a fuller, more viscous palate. This is great, but it strongly resembles an especially good 15-year-old Dickel barrel pick. The issue is the price. This is better than my bottle of Resilient, but not by much, and I've always understood barrel #124 of Resilient to be of middling quality (or perhaps lower). Given how transparent Resilient is about their releases, I have to assume it's possible to find a bottle of Resilient of similar quality for half the price of this (or a slightly less impressive bottle for a third of the price, in my case). I've greatly enjoyed trying this, but I just don't understand the hype. I don't think I can give it a 20, but a 19 is certainly possible. It's either an 18 or a 19. My leaning is towards a 19, but not a high 19. Thank you for sharing this!

Nose: nutty aroma, citrus vitamin, berry notes, butterscotch, licorice, chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, brown sugar, cinnamon, robust oak, noticeable alcohol sting. Tasting: citrus vitamin, cherry, baked fruit, leather, tobacco, spiced butter, dry oak, licorice, nuttiness, dark chocolate, black pepper, caramel, vanilla, moderate alcohol sting, medium-length aftertaste with citrus vitamin, nutty aroma, and dry oak flavors. This is the 2020 expression of the Barrell 15 Year. I found the 2019 enjoyable but disliked its dry, bitter character and the Dickel influence. This expression also has significant Dickel notes, so let's see how it compares. The aroma is rich and fruity. The nutty notes and Dickel vitamins are prominent right away. However, this version is richer and not nearly as dry as the 2019 release. Pleasant red berry notes are present alongside butterscotch and sweet tobacco scents. The palate echoes many of the same flavors, including the Dickel vitamins, a buttery cinnamon profile, leather, and some dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is full and the finish is better than average. So, this is superior to the 2019 release. The bitterness remains, and the Dickel character is unmistakable throughout. Nevertheless, it's a great whiskey. If I had a greater appreciation for Dickel, this could be an exceptional whiskey. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample!

The aroma is rich and syrupy, beginning with premium dark maple syrup drizzled over buttermilk pancakes, followed by candied pecans and fruits like sautéed tender cinnamon apples, tart cherries, and candied orange peel atop vanilla ice cream, culminating in bitter, high-proof dark chocolate, leather, and aged polished mahogany, with a moderate alcohol burn. The palate offers a syrupy, rich texture starting with chocolate-covered pecan clusters, then cinnamon apple fritters, maraschino cherries, and a chalky orange sports drink flavor, transitioning to mild spice that subsides into ginger, cloves, nutmeg, leather, and aged polished mahogany, with a medium alcohol burn. The finish is lengthy, featuring caramel-coated sautéed tender cinnamon apples, toasted coconut, honeycomb, mandarin oranges, dark chocolate, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, leather, and aged polished mahogany that lingers for several minutes. This producer has crafted an outstanding bourbon that incorporates classic bourbon notes but elevates them to deliver a decadently rich bourbon experience that endures long after each sip. The price point, over $200, seems justified given the age and it surpasses many new premium bourbon offerings available today, though personally, I would still prefer a certain other bourbon over this one.

Barrell has rapidly ascended my list of preferred brands. It appears that everything they release recently is exceptional. This particular one pushes their bottle price point higher, approaching the $200 mark, and it's still frequently resold according to recent reports. Regardless, I prefer to sip rather than flip, so let's explore it. The aroma is dominated by vanilla and caramel. There are no ethanol or unusual notes present. The initial sip is packed with flavor. Caramel, brown sugar, perhaps a touch of peanut brittle. This transitions into a peppery heat on the edges that intensifies to a mild burn before fading into a light creme brulee finish. To begin, $200 is quite a bit for any bottle, so I expect something extraordinary. This is truly an excellent dram. It ranks among the finest 15-year bottles I've experienced overall and could be very close to a perfect score if not for its high cost. In any event, it's one to acquire if you can find it and decide to purchase it.

This is the third time I've sampled this bottle. It's not a powerful whiskey. The two other bourbons I've recently enjoyed, ecbp b519 and even the Remus repeal reserve IV, are more substantial and develop more during the tasting. This barrel has a subtle aroma that requires me to put my nose deep into the glass to detect. In addition to the expected notes, I detect faint blueberry and perhaps sandalwood. It has a minty taste (which I sense where I'd anticipate alcohol, which is barely perceptible) followed by cherry as it lingers. As it sits, more vanilla emerges. I'm actually enjoying it more as I try to describe it. It possesses sophistication. The finish is long but not intense. While there are undoubtedly better ways to spend $200, this is an elegant bourbon. I feel as though I need a $200 designer shirt to wear while drinking it.

This is exceptional. The nose is abundant and vibrant. Oak, brown sugar, strawberry, peach, banana, coconut, nutmeg, caramel candies, roasted peanuts and hazelnuts, and a subtle leather note hint at its age. It strikes an ideal balance between oak and fruit with significant complexity. The initial taste is rich and welcoming, showcasing layers of flavor. Spice emerges first with nutmeg, allspice, and a touch of clove, followed by the rich presence of oak and brown sugar noted on the nose, which spreads across the palate. Honeyed apricot and peach contribute to the fruity profile, and the alcohol level is well-judged, allowing flavors to stand out without being overpowering. The finish is long and intricate, featuring abundant gooey caramel, vanilla cream soda, hazelnut brittle, and tannic oak. A superb conclusion to an outstanding journey.