Barrell Bourbon Batch 007

Heady notes of corn and artificial honey on the nose . Orange peel hints and clove . Water helps reduce the heavy alcohol influence and allows a little more vanilla to come out . Below average bottle from BB portfolio

Haven’t had this in a while. Maybe it has opened up because it was better than I remembered. Nothing special about the nose but the taste is definitely unique. Very sweet with citrus (more like lemon than orange?), cinnamon and honey. Nice kick for the finish. Bought a single barrel so wanted to compare this one and glad I did.

Nose - (w/o water) Cinnamon caramel, sweet oak, brown sugar syrup, faint sweet mint stems (w/ water) Bit brighter & opens up but otherwise identical Taste - (w/o water) Fairly hot, sweet intense cinnamon spice, rich syrupy caramel, hint of sweet red cherries (w/ water) Heat is delayed, more cinnamon cherry followed by a wave of dark brown simple, heat follows at the end with cinnamon spice & a light oaky sweet Finish - (w/o water) Lingering spicy caramel, heat lingers, cherry & lightly oaky brown simple (w/ water) Less heat, more cherry caramel in addition to the dark brown simple Score - 84/100 Final Thoughts - This is fairly run of the mill and kind of what you think about when you think of a bourbon. It's just bumped up the proof a bit and definitely does better with a hint of water as it softens the heat a bit and makes it a bit more brown simple sweet versus cinnamon heat. Nothing really spectacular about this, but nothing really bad about it either. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Hot as eff. If you can get through the firewall, flavors are pleasant, oaky, maybe orange/citrus fruit.

Heat hit liked a ton of bricks , but after your mouth adjusts it’s a very good pour . Nice Orange peel and bright cherry notes highlight this pour. Nice different expression from earlier barrell batches