Barrell Dovetail (122.9 Proof)

It's like seeing a cartoon depiction of pure evil candy, not crack, but candy corn with fangs and claws. Its promiscuous, borderline-illegal posterior is what came to mind on my first taste of this fantastic dram. Given that this year's Halloween might be the worst on record, I decided this whiskey deserved a review. The aroma offers grape jelly and zesty cinnamon. Quite appealing, and it seems this trick-or-treater is wearing open-toed shoes. Thankfully for us, this spirit drinks like a teenager ready to celebrate Halloween, ignoring any potential risks. It's a true party starter: the palate is rich with molasses, leading to a dark fruity sweetness, then evolving into rum-kissed cane sugar. (I'm borrowing freely from a friend's concise notes.) The texture is thick and syrupy. The finish is dry and astringent, but only a little bitter. I believe we have a novice here, my fellow conspirators! But damn - if I haven't already sold my soul - this is the smoothest cask strength whiskey I've ever experienced. (A novice indeed, but one with the cunning of a hustler or a gangster, who would never admit to being a virgin or doing wrong -- at least, not since infancy.) At a remarkable 61.45% abv, the Dovetail feels more like a 50% liquor, with most of the proof felt as a tingle on the tongue. It's truly the calm at the heart of a raging storm. This is the first spirit I've encountered where intense sweetness has been successfully boosted by the alcohol content without incapacitating me. It's like drinking cask strength Manischewitz wine, as the dark liquid coated my throat with sugary nectar. And like a real teenager, it lacks much balance - but possesses enough maturity to be competent. I crave more, however, as I consume the essence of the victim. Adding a teaspoon of water lightens the texture slightly, but it remains thick, while reducing the dry astringency. (A slight disappointment, considering how a splash of water in another whiskey transformed its body into the most exceptional mouthfeel I've known... but at this point, I'm being overly critical.) With further attention to the finish -- by smacking my tongue -- herbaceous and dark spice notes emerge and play out into a light oak bitterness. (Yes, I can taste the parental influence as I end the victim's life with water.) This spirit pairs very well with water, but I prefer it undiluted. When enjoyed neat, it's a masterfully crafted indulgence, with a thick texture leaning towards dark sweets and a malt body. Again, it's far from balanced - the sweet notes are almost overwhelming - but the ABV won't overwhelm my undead palate. At the conclusion of my intense tasting, I'm left hollowed out, mirroring the rapid journey across my palate. True, the name "Dovetail" itself relates to woodworking, where joints are created by interlocking pieces. In this case, those pieces are the casks used: rum, cabernet, and port. But like any universal ideal, the resulting qualities are open to change, scrutiny, assessment, and even, rejection. And in this specific situation, I will need to bring my subject back to life to find a permanent place for it in my collection - even if it means preserving it permanently - simply because it's so incredibly smooth. Thanks to a friend for the strong recommendation.

Rating: 17/23 Nose: Maple and some barrel char. A subtle hint of sweet tropical fruit. There's maple and a bit of caramel. It also has a slightly dry, waxy tartness. Palate: A clear rum influence is present. It's sweet and somewhat complex, which might be polarizing. I detect sweet yet rich and subtle tropical fruits (banana, rich orange, and pineapple among them), along with maple, a hint of dried tart cherry, some char, and a rich herbal funk. I think there's vanilla, but I'm struggling to pinpoint it. A touch of waxiness is also noticeable. It's definitely complex, though not exceptionally so. The balance is good, leaning slightly sweet. It has good richness and body, though not as much as a very mature cask strength offering. Overall, it's a very pleasant palate, though I find it difficult to distinguish whether it's bourbon aged in rum barrels or rum aged in bourbon barrels. I'd lean towards bourbon in a rum barrel due to the lack of intense flavor, but it's surprisingly challenging. It shares some of the stately character of Appleton Estate 12, with a bit of the youthful yet vibrant Plantation Xaymaca vibe. There's also maple and a caramel sweetness. Finish: The sweetness and fruit mostly recede, leaving the char and some of the less prominent flavors. It's an adequate finish, but not nearly as impressive as the nose. - Conclusion - This is an enjoyable dram. It's good and likely to appeal to beginners with its sweet, fruity profile. I like it, but it lacks the complexity, balance, and refinement I'd expect from a top-tier dram. For interesting finished bourbons, I much prefer the more subdued Blood Oath Pact 6. With that in mind, this scores at most an 18. It's better than a well-oxidized Russell's Reserve 10, placing it in the 17 to 18 range. I appreciate the increased complexity over Russell's significantly, but the rum sweetness is quite bold. I'd call this the better dram, but not by a huge margin. For me, the rum is too dominant here, so it has to be a 17 instead of an 18. I could see myself rating this an 18 on a future tasting, but I initially thought it might reach a 20, which I no longer see happening. Thanks for the sample!

Nose - butterscotch, overly ripe banana, black cherry, molasses, cornbread, vanilla, cinnamon, dry herbal notes, cocoa, rich oak, roasted peanut, old book, musky deodorant, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - butterscotch, strawberry jam, spearmint, overly ripe banana, sweet oak, orange zest, chili pepper, vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, cherry, ginger, cocoa, bitter herbal notes, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with spearmint, overly ripe banana, and herbal flavors. After a short break, I'm back with more Barrell reviews. This is another expression with significant finishing, including rum, port, and cabernet. The rum component is quite noticeable. Buttery, overly ripe banana, and molasses come through strongly from the glass. Sweet cornbread, red fruit, and dry, musky, oaky herbs complete a pleasant aroma. While the rum finish is also present on the palate, the port component strikes me first. Jammy red fruits, baking spices, and earthy spearmint are abundant. It drinks hotter, brighter, and more bitter than I would prefer. The mouthfeel and finish are average. I had high hopes after the initial nosing, but youth and bitterness unfortunately dominate the palate. I have a similar impression here as I did with Seagrass. I would love to try a 16 Year Dovetail release, but the standard version isn't special. I suspect a more aged version could be magnificent. But as it stands, this is better than average at best for me. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample!

Smell: Plums, figs, and raisins present a harmonious blend of assorted dried red fruits on the nose. Cinnamon and spice follow. As expected at this high proof, there are clear hints of ethanol, but they don't overwhelm the aroma as one might anticipate or dread. Returning after a few minutes reveals notes of sweet bread and vanilla pudding. Taste: The initial taste is striking. Cinnamon, dried fruit, and a vibrant burst of vanilla. Sweet bread, spice cake, and anise emerge strongly on the latter part of the palate. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it's wonderful. One of the most exquisitely complex whiskies I have ever encountered. Finish: It's long and potent. I never truly grasped the concept of the "Kentucky Hug" until I tasted this. The flavor lingers and warms your chest. Truly, this is a delightful winter bourbon. Originality: The brand consistently produces some of the most distinctive and expertly made whiskey blends currently available, demonstrating their mastery of the craft. A whiskey blend finished in rum barrels, port pipes, and Cabernet casks results in... this? Incredible. Worth: I managed to acquire this on sale for $75, and I might purchase another to keep for later. $85 for a bottle is pricey for me, but this is likely the most unique, different, and delicious whiskey I may have experienced in my relatively brief journey with bourbon/whiskey. (Suggested Retail Price $85)

The aroma has tannic qualities, with a discernible red wine presence. The nose is very sweet, yet distinctive, comparable to a certain well-known brand. The body is intense, featuring significant cinnamon and red hot candy flavors. The finish has a noticeable burn. Overall, I find this bourbon to be excessively priced. While I'm not its biggest admirer, I believe those who appreciate a bit of heat might enjoy it. I'm curious to sample other expressions from this distillery, as this particular one was not impressive. The aroma is unfortunately its strongest aspect. The various cask finishes seem more for show than for enhancing flavor, as I don't find the taste of this whiskey particularly good or complex. One would be better off purchasing a different bourbon in this price range.

I'd been contemplating buying this for a while, but got a sample instead, and I'm glad I did before making a purchase. My favorite aspect of the Seagrass is the ability to detect hints of all the secondary finishes, and how well they complement the rye. With this particular one, it seems the balance is askew, as the rum's influence dominates the other finishes. I've experimented with adding a bit of rum to some of my whiskies as an economical imitation of rum-finished whiskey, and I've observed that it requires very little to significantly alter the experience. While I've enjoyed this sample, I don't believe I will buy it.