Ironroot Harbinger Tri-barrel Solstice Edition

Special release Summer Solstice Edition of the Harbinger Tri-barrel. The three barrels range in age from 5-6 years. Made with bloody butcher and purple corn. Two barrels of American oak, one of European oak. Cask strength, 62.6%. Picked up at the distillery Sept 2022. The nose already has me reaching for some of the better bourbons in the cabinet to compare. Lots of cherry, even brandied cherries. Maybe a little singed orange peel. Dusty oak. Underneath, there is a little of the signature Texas funk that I liken more to the kind I get from Garrison Cowboy. This comes across as a sort-of mashup of Stagg Jr Batch 15's big cherry notes with the bold Texas bourbon of Garrison Cowboy. This is one that can be enjoyed on the nose for some time before taking a sip. The palate comes through with loads of cherry, berry. Fruit bomb is right. Then rich caramel, before coming back to fruit again. The back end brings some baking spice and woody notes. Maybe clove, allspice. Lingers. I did a little compare with Stagg Jr. and Cowboy, and this held up well to both. I think I settled on Cowboy #1, this #2, and Stagg #3, but the order could change by the day and mood, as they're all great bourbons. Really pleased with this one.