Barrell Dovetail (122.54 Proof)

Aroma - chocolate, candied fruit, caramel, a slight burn from the alcohol, fresh marshmallow (like when you first open the bag), cinnamon, and a little pepper… wow, this is complex. Taste - Whoa! Strawberries and cream!!! I've never experienced anything like this before. Amazing! That first sip caught me off guard. I'm definitely getting a slight port and wine dryness on the finish. The alcohol is certainly noticeable, but I don't mind it at all. It complements the sweet notes, honestly. There's a subtle mint that emerges occasionally. Wow… every time I take another sip, a new fruit flavor comes forward… blackberries and plums now. The complexity is off the charts. I wish it were a bit more viscous. But that's just being a bit critical. It's great to have on hand for variety.

Nose: vanilla ice cream, fresh and dried red fruits, and a pleasant hint of bubblegum Palate: deep caramel, citrus, dry red wine Finish: strawberry perfume (unusual, I admit), citrus pith, lime juice, faint return of the bubblegum The aroma is the highlight. Not as sweet as the nose suggests. Quite smooth for the proof. Substantial and silky texture. Update: after resting for a year and oxidizing, this bottle developed a LOT of thick, caramel sweetness. If you have a bottle and don’t love it, set it aside for 6 months and revisit it. It's truly good. It's now easily a 4 star.

A truly special spirit, best enjoyed with purpose. Served neat, it presents a challenge. There's a notable burn, accompanied by notes of prunes and other ripe fruits. With a touch of ice, diverse elements emerge and develop. It offers multiple layers of complexity. Likely due to its maturation, nearly everything is detectable except perhaps smoke. I mixed one Manhattan with it, and it was a poor pairing (as much my error as anything). Treading the fine line between neat and mixed, and magic appears. At this point, it performs best as a subsequent drink in the evening, served with one large ice cube.

Remarkable. This spirit is intricate yet accessible. There's much occurring, but it's not the sort of intricacy where you must search and struggle for what you're experiencing. If you pause with it, characteristic after characteristic will strike you. Abundant fruit, primarily darker fruits like plum, black cherry, grape, but also strawberry. Sweet with a warming heat on the finish. A very pleasant drink for its 122 proof.

Fluid. Not literally, but figuratively... and also literally. One moment it's syrupy, the next it has the same consistency as engine oil. But like extremely delicious engine oil. The best way to describe it is that somehow the people at Barrell discovered the secret to sweetness, and I'm glad they did. Happy birthday to me!

An expert demonstration of finishing bourbon. The rum, port, and cabernet enhance and highlight the sweetness without overpowering the base spirit. A wine-like and grapey aroma leads to flavors of earthiness, stone fruit, and vanillin. I will seek out and buy this bottle again.