With bourbon, the most important factor comes down to the juice itself. For that exact reason, Barrell Bourbon is in the lead amongst the new school whiskey company. Though not a traditional distiller, because each batch is a little different having been chosen from straight bourbon from Kentucky and Tennessee, it provides a unique spirit all batches with a proof over 120. Each one is limited and the batches so far have been nothing short of delicious.
So far, there have been 9 batches – 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 007B and 008. Batch 008 is the latest batch that was distilled and aged in Tennessee for 9.5 years in Char #4 American white oak barrels and then was crafted in Kentucky and is at 132.8 proof cask strength bottling. Exotic spices take over the nose with aromas of praline, bitter chocolate nibs and dry, late summer hay. The palate is lavishly textured in a myriad of layers that has undertones of dried apricots, sweet milk chocolate and refreshing strawberries that leaves a warm sensation on your tongue. The other batches have similar flavor notes. The 001 and 002 are very alike in their vanilla and woodsy oak tones that are much like the 005, which also combined pears, pralines and peaches. Peaches are also present in the 004 batches as well as it being textured with hints of tobacco just as the 007B, which is rich with apricots. The 003, 006 and 007 all have charred stone fruit, oak and honey flavors that give off the sweet and spices that are evident throughout all the batches. So pick a number between 1 and 8 and indulge in the delightful richness of this bourbon (count 7 twice though!)
