Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon 15 Year (2020 Release)

Barrell has quickly climbed up my favorite brand list. It seems everything they put on the shelf lately is fantastic. This one takes the higher price point of their bottles up a bit to the $200 mark and it still is one of the most flipped bottles according to recent articles. In any case I am one for sippin not flippin so let's dive in. Nose is all vanilla and caramel. No ethanol or funky notes on this one. First sip is full of flavor. Caramel, brown sugar, maybe a hint of peanut brittle. This leads to some peppery heat on the edges that builds to a mild burn before trailing off to a light creme brulee finish. Let me start by saying $200 is a bit much for any bottle so I expect some magic. This one is really an excellent dram. It is one of the best 15 year bottles I have had across the board and might be darn close to a 5 if not so pricey. In any case one to grab if you can find it and pull the trigger.

Third time having a dram off the bottle. It’s not a bold whiskey. The other two high-flying bourbons I’ve been sipping on lately, ecbp b519 and even the Remus repeal reserve IV are much bigger and evolve more over the taste. This barrell has a tight nose that I really have to stick my nose in the glencairn to get. Besides what you’d expect, I get some faint blueberry. Maybe sandalwood too. It has some mint in the taste (that I perceive where I’d expect alcohol, which barely shows up) and then some cherry as it lingers. As it opens up I’m getting more vanilla. I’m actually liking it better drinking it while trying to put words to it. It is sophisticated. Finish is long but not strong. There are better ways to spend $200 no doubt, but this is classy bourbon. I feel like I need a $200 Prada shirt to wear when sipping it.

Rich, creamy, minty. Goes down smoothly neat.

Very smooth