Barrell Bourbon Batch 019

Best bourbon I've tasted.

Barrell Batch 019 is a mix of whiskeys from Kentucky and Tennessee, ranging from 9.5 to 14 years in age.  Although not disclosed, George Dickel is alleged to be the Tennessee source.   It's bottled at 54.7% ABV.   A deep caramel and molasses note is prominent on the nose.  The palate is dominated by wood spice, cinnamon, anise, pepper and clove.  Underneath is a very nice caramel and orange sweetness. The finish is long with vanilla and spice.  Barrell's web site identifies dark chocolate covered blueberries on the finish as well. While I would not have come up with that on my own, it rings very true. I don't often experiment with adding water, but I did in this case.  A handful of drops toned down the cinnamon and spice a bit while increasing the vanilla and oak.  It also brought out a bit of fruit on then nose.  While Batch 019 is very nice straight out of the bottle,  I preferred it with just a bit of water - to my palate, it was a bit more balanced. With or without water, this is simply a great bourbon, and a complex one at that.  I have no doubt I'll find more as I work through the bottle.  The complexity and relatively high ABV make it an engaging dram that demands to be consumed very mindfully.  But it's also an easy enough sipper that I could thoroughly enjoy it in a completely mindless fashion.  All in all, great stuff!

Everything you want out of a good American whiskey incredibly smooth considering it is 109 proof