Tastes

Finally got my hands on a Barrell. Was looking forward to trying something based off their solid reputation. This particular entry sounded very enticing. Exotic/unique barreling listed had my interest peaked. The nose was quite interesting. Reminded me of a type of fruit cobbler. I say type cause the notes kept switching in the stone fruit family. Peach or perhaps apricot. Both surrounded by a gentle oak covering. One cannot also forget the ethanol presence which occurs if you get to deep in your chalice of choice. Keep to the rim and you'll be golden. The sipping part was quite the experience. Neat (at least for me) resulted in an exothermic reaction in the esophagus. High proof be damned here 😂 Dilution is the solution here folks. (Again IMHO) After said water was added I can resume the review process. The rye spice was quite potent and carried on towards the finish line. But tastefully so! Once that hurdle was traversed the rye dovetailed into a lovely fruit medley that trickled in and stayed with you much after the fact. Apricot was the obvious star. But I also got an orange marmalade essence as well. Oak, a dusting of cinnamon, and cocoa played a minor role at times. I thoroughly enjoyed the layered effect from this spirit and recommend it to those on the fence. $79.99 I paid seemed like a fair price given the complexity that lied within. No question I will seek out their other offerings if made available.

The price and story behind this convinced me to give it a whirl. So glad I did. Maybe not the diehard connoisseur's favorite, but definitely worth a shot. I felt the 2 styles/regions both showed their influence within this attractive vessel. The red fruit and jammy nose emulated the "East" sherry cask blending well. The palate told a different story. Caramel and vanilla up front with a lovely oak and spicy rye finish a la the "West" half. I experienced this tasty spirit neat which is how I normally prefer them. The lower Abv made it fairly easy to enjoy it this way as well at least IMO. Anyone on the fence here, I highly recommend taking the plunge.

Loved the double oaked Woodford put out so this was definitely next on the menu. Hard to come by around me and a little pricey, buy so worth the hunt. Neat: Proof is pretty evident, but after a few sips things got much better. Maple and/or molasses can easily be detected on the nose. Tasting notes provided a plethora of characters consisting of cherry, oak, rye, and leather with vanilla subtleties. The finish was fairly long and was reminiscent of cherry candy with a touch of spice. Ice block: Muted the maple, but rather got vanilla on the nose. Taste was mostly leather, spice, and everything nice. Subtle vanilla as well. The block definitely put the flames out, but removed some of the flavors you get neat. Overall this was quite amazing and I no doubt will take my time with it. Woodford put in quite the effort here. A+

At last I was successful in acquiring the next level in the Spot series. Almost double in price from the green, but well worth it. Did a back to back comparo and there definitely was a hierarchy separation. Complex would be the proper adjective to describe this lovely whiskey. The nose brought forth a combination of grassiness, peppers, and fruit of some sort. The taste bud analysis yielded a pleasant mix of honey dipped apples and vanilla cream up front. The finish was quite substantial containing red fruit, a peppery essence, and a grainy ending. I'm a bourbon gentleman through and through, but this spirit concocted by our Irish friends brings a force to be reckoned with. Highly recommended!

Got this as a surprise Xmas gift. I say surprise because it is very hard to find by me. Especially for MSRP. But the inlaws managed. I digress. Average rating was lower than I expected based on my experience. This was very well made. Nose was enticing with its vanilla, cinnamon, and oak subtleties. Flavor contained a fair amount of spice. Not to the level claimed by the main Distiller review. Somewhat compared to cinnamon candy. Oak and char appear later and onto the long finish which was drying. As I proceeded to sip, a hint of vanilla and/or chocolate essence emerged. Sweetness was minimized. This always had me going back for a second pour. Definitely memorable IMHO. Would revisit for sure.

My first OF thanks to a great store rec. Average nose. Had the usual cinnamon and vanilla spice elements. Subtle oak and booze as well. As I commenced to sip, I received somewhat of a burn that eventually fizzled. After which notes of leather flourished the senses ending with just the right spicy sweetness. Perhaps nutmeg. After that first pour I quickly filled another. To my delight, every sip afterwards was very smooth. Considering the 115 proof, this was a surprise. No need for water nor ice IMO. Very satisfied with this purchase. Definitely will delve into the other recipes/years.

Gifted by the wife. My first JW added to the collection. Nothing spectacular, nor a slouch either. The charred oak used translated to the spirit quite effectively. Practically liquid campfire. Smooth and easy drinking to boot. Subtle sweetness up front with slight spice later.

This is my first time drinking an Irish whiskey based on a recent recommendation from a bartender. At the bar it was so smooth I thought it may have been diluted in some way. I decided to buy myself a bottle. Luckily, I scored one on sale locally. Fortunately, I endured a similar experience! The aromatics resembled vanilla infused oak. Taste was an interesting mix of said oak along with apple and at times green banana. Not as sweet as the fruit notes lead you to believe which was nice. Instead it finished quite dry with a smidge of an earthy like character. From what I was told this is the starting point in the brand. After this positive result, I shall definitely seek out the other colors in their palette.

Batch#103. I was both skeptical and intrigued about this whiskey. I was definitely hoping it wasn't just shameless propaganda from such a kick ass band. Fortunately, this wasn't half bad IMO. Pretty smooth with a charming linearity of flavor provided. Citrus peel, charred oak, and corn. Somewhat sweet. Nothing spectacular, but still fairly enjoyable. I heard not all batches were as palatable. Luckily, I got a positive one.

Took some time to locate a variant from this reputable distillery. I enjoyed the small batch very much and strived to see what else they could do. Luckily I found this at a reduced yet a little higher than MSRP. For my neck of the woods, the price wasn't terrible. Back to the whiskey which is why I'm here hehe! The nose was mysterious since it changed disguises a couple times. First I got a peppery spice. Then subtle banana and clove. After some time, butterscotch settled in. The sipping experience was more stable and consistent. The expected spicy rye notes came forth with some grunt and persisted through to the long finish. Fortunately, it wasn't alone. Cinnamon and butterscotch sweetness trickled in to balance the equation. The heat was quite tolerable for a 💯. After a bit, you forget it existed. Definitely worth the buy if anyone is on the fence. I must now seek out the single barrel! Cheers! 🍻