Barrell Bourbon Batch 028

Nose: Big, bold, boozy oak and char. This is not shy about what it is. Classic brown sugar and vanilla are also here, alongside a bready, biscuity character I'm really digging. Tobacco, leather, and dusty corn. Splashes of fruits dancing around in the background. Baking spices, leaning more on cinnamon. Cocoa. There's also some sublty meaty characterists. Palate: Oak and bubblegum. Vanilla. Bananas. Light brown sugar. Grocery store sugar cookies with that colored coarse sugar sprinkled on top. Coffee and leather punching though - barrel bite is definitely coming through. Solid tannin to add texture and just a little bitterness. Black licorice and nutmeg. Solid balance and structure. Medium mouthfeel. Finish: Classic ethanol pop and oak. That oak slowly gets charred while coffee grounds, earth, and buttermilk biscuits come and go. Berries, vanilla custard. As things fade some thyme and basil show up. Medium-long length. Other notes: This is an excellent bourbon. It's not coloring outside the lines or bringing anyhthing unique to the table. Instead, this executes the standard format very well. Barrell continues to impress, with releases like this definitely climbing into Booker's territory as far as quality is concerned. For being 108.86 proof, this presents much bigger and bolder than I was expecting. An easy recommended buy if you enjoy the style. And definitely one I'll be sad to see go.

My first pour from this left me disappointed. I got nothing but spice and heat. I don't know if the bottle mellowed or I acclimated (neck pour is real?), but now I have no complaints. Especially with a splash of water, this stuff opens right up and you get a very balanced but flavorful bourbon. I especially enjoy the long charred oak on the finish. It's a warm bonfire in my mouth!

Rye pepper, full bodied, cinnamon, vanilla, oak, dry finish, not much fruit notes.

Nice spice, vanilla. Long, smooth finish

Fruit forward but complex and fantastic finish. One of the best bourbons I’ve ever had. I was blown away.