The picture below is from February 2016. One of the first Barrell single barrels released. Noticing a trend this week? I love being able to celebrate the brands we've grown with over the years. Barrell Craft Spirits is a prime example. I'm still sitting on about 3 ounces of their first batch. They've grown a lot since then. Now, we grabbed two amazing barrels for this week's releases. We knew we had to make a splash with the return of Barrell single barrels. This 9-year 7-month single barrel bourbon and private blend did just that! This single barrel is an incredibly grippy and expressive bourbon, especially if you like things bit on the brighter side. Fans of Bourbon De Luxe will be happy here. This Sercial Madeira barrel is probably one of the best finished whiskeys we've done all year long.
Barrell 9-Year 7-Months Single Barrel Bourbon #Z6K8 115.56 proof
The nose opens with cherry candies, Smarties, cinnamon butter, and honey, finished with a dusting of nutmeg. It continues into deeper territory with plenty of leather and a warm almond paste note.
The palate is explosive - cherry hard candies and bursts of orange zest hit first, followed by rich, layered oak. There’s a playful contrast of sweet and zesty, almost reminiscent of strawberry vinaigrette. The mid-palate turns decadent, with candy bar notes ranging from nougat to chocolate, peanuts, and caramel - all leading into a honeyed, elegantly spiced linger.
The finish is long and chewy - starting bright with orange zest, maraschino cherry, dried pineapple, oak, and black pepper, then easing into a smooth fade of caramel and chocolate pudding pop.
Barrell Private Release Madeira Finished Whiskey #CQ57 121.22 proof
The nose is exactly what you want in a finished whiskey - sweet and fragrant, juicy with peach and nectarine, and lingering with vanilla cream.
The palate is delicious - juicy, jammy, and most importantly, rounded. Raspberry and peach lead the way, followed by a burst of watermelon Italian ice. The flavors are hard to pin down because there are just so many wins in how this whiskey layers and lands on the palate.
The finish tapers off long and slow - delivering a beautiful fruit medley bouquet with flashes of citrus-peach punch and just the right touch of oak.
