So I was browsing at TW, as I do, and this caught my eye after reading about @dubz480 charity bottle. I asked the manager what she thought of it. After several minutes of discussion a puzzled look came across her face, and then a smile. Before I knew it I was sitting in the back with another employee and whiskey appreciator cutting the seal from a bottle from the shelf... I either need to shop at TW way more or way less at this point. This is Barrell’s BA1C bottle, blended with 45% 5 year 25% 10 year 25% 14 year and 5% 16 year bourbons. I felt like Bardstown Bourbon Co tries this with their Fusion series - the young and old blends - but the flavors never quite meet in the middle. Tasting notes on this read a “fresh corn-forward sweetness.” It is that and then some... This, even from a small plastic thimble of a cup, had loads of orchard fruit and corn-sweetness coming from it. Hot and vibrant on the first sip the front palate got all of the orange, cherry and vanilla notes and the sides the wood spices. The finish really brought out the aged barre notes. The mouthfeel is oily and the heat is present, but adds to the experience. The balance between the young, sweet notes and aged wood notes leans toward the sweet (think Makers FAE-01 if you’ve tried it, or a good Russel’s Reserve) but the wood and spice are dialed in exquisitely. I was hesitant to pay $99 for this but I was sold at first sip. My bottle is bunkered for now while I go through a few other Barrell offerings but these folks could give the blenders at Johnny Walker an (expensive and varied) run for their money IMO.