“Breaking Barrell: International Outlaw - The Islay Times”
Blend Number: CQ24
Proof: 124.16
Finishing Barrel: Islay Single Malt Scotch Cask
Bottle Count: 231 bottles
Tasting Notes: Nose: Sugary candy sweetness | Candy apple | Kettle corn | Touch of leather | Inviting Palate: Caramel | Vanilla | Leather | Light, manageable scotch flavor on the backend | Rich flavors | Delicious Finish: Candy corn | Caramel apple | Hint of leather | Touch of molasses | Lingering spice
About: There are some barrel picks we get really excited about, and Barrell Craft Spirits is one of them. We arranged a visit to their location in Louisville, where we spent some quality time with the Barrell team that includes company Founder Joe Beatrice, Chief of Distillery Operations/Chief Whiskey Scientist Tripp Stimson, and Blender/Manager of Blending Operations Nic Christiansen. For the first time in quite a while, all three of us Breaking Bourbon Co-Founders were in Kentucky at the same time, and we were joined by long-time friend Ryan Cecil, Co-Founder of Bourbon Pursuit and Pursuit Spirits. This was one of those cases where it was as fun catching up with old friends as it was tasting a wide range of whiskeys, and putting the two together was even better. There are some barrel picks we get really excited about, and Barrell Craft Spirits is one of them. We arranged a visit to their location in Louisville, where we spent some quality time with the Barrell team that includes company Founder Joe Beatrice, Chief of Distillery Operations/Chief Whiskey Scientist Tripp Stimson, and Blender/Manager of Blending Operations Nic Christiansen. For the first time in quite a while, all three of us Breaking Bourbon Co-Founders were in Kentucky at the same time, and we were joined by long-time friend Ryan Cecil, Co-Founder of Bourbon Pursuit and Pursuit Spirits. This was one of those cases where it was as fun catching up with old friends as it was tasting a wide range of whiskeys, and putting the two together was even better.
We could have easily gone with a number of the options presented, but decided to narrow it down to two. As the conversation unraveled we realized there was a strong (and unanimous) preference among the three of us to take two barrels, with one of them being a more straightforward bourbon and the other being a wild card.
For the wild card, we had a bit more to talk about. We love cognac finished bourbons, rum finished are always fun, and Madeira can be really good too. But this one surprised us. The three of us rarely gravitate towards scotch, and while we enjoy one from time to time it can be a polarizing venture, especially for a bourbon-only drinker. The Islay Malt Scotch finished barrel knocked it out of the park. Starting as an ex-Maker’s Mark Bourbon barrel, it then aged Islay Scotch (exact source unknown), and then made its way back to the United States. The end result - a whiskey that is quintessentially American, integrating rich, more traditional American whiskey flavors with just the right amount of scotch influence to add layers of depth. We were unanimous on this one, and so it was done.
Selected by Breaking Bourbon
