ctbeck11
Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon 15 Year (2018 Release)
Bourbon — (bottled in) Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
March 7, 2022 (edited July 7, 2023)
Nose - roasted peanut, cocoa, toffee, vanilla, cinnamon, red berry, orange vitamin, sweaty oak, anise, black pepper, moderate ethanol burn.
Taste - toffee, orange vitamin, vanilla, roasted peanut, baked apple, chocolate malt, cinnamon butter, leather, nutmeg, black cherry, dry oak, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with roasted peanut, orange, and baking spice flavors.
I have the great fortune of possessing three separate Barrell 15 Year samples, the 2019, 2020, and 2021. Starting here with the 2019 release, the nose has a strong dry roasted peanut quality. Cocoa powder, orange vitamin, and toffee are also very present. It’s rich, but very drying. The palate carries the same roasted peanut quality or possibly something similar to a homemade peanut butter. Malted chocolate, black cherry, and strong baking spices round out a nice, albeit slightly bitter and drying, palate. The mouthfeel and finish are above average.
So the Dickel is definitely strong with this one. That telltale orange vitamin minerality is unmistakable. Further, there’s a very present musty peanut quality that makes me think of Beam, but I can’t verify that. Overall, this is very good bourbon. It’s extremely close to being great bourbon, but those Dickel vitamins and a borderline unpleasant bitterness hold it back for me. A big thank you to @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington for providing the generous sample!
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@Anthology Thank you! Even better than buying the bottle :)
@ctbeck11 I’ve seen them at BevMos and TW in these parts at a fraction of the cost of the Barrell 15. The key is getting the ones that are at least 50% abv (mine was 52.3% and at the halfway mark. Happy to save you a pour). I’ve heard the lower proofs in the 40s are not as good.
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington Also, I’m getting more critical these days with my reviews. No doubt this is really good bourbon. Though I wish it wasn’t priced like 18 Year Springbank. I wish 18 Year Springbank wasn’t priced like 18 Year Springbank. Maybe things will change for the better one day.
@Anthology Haven’t seen that one in stores around me. Will give it a try if I find it at retail.
The musty peanut note on this one was in full effect for me and I think you’re right about it being Beam. That seemed to outshine the Dicklel layer but I was disappointed at the lack of MGP magic on this one. Can’t win them all I suppose but that’s Barrell for you and I look forward to seeing how this series winds up!
Disappointing given the going rate for these Barrell 15s. If it’s mostly Dickel juice, may be better off getting the Dickel 15Yr SiB (at least 50% abv versions)!
@ctbeck11 I get it. Not really a fan of that vitamin flavor myself and I'm getting a bit tired of everything being Dickel.
@ContemplativeFox It could just be another case of what seems to be my growing dislike of the Dickel influence.
@pkingmartin Yep I’m really interested to see whether there are any similarities or if they’re completely different. And nice, would love to try an Old Fitz one day. Not holding my breath though.
Agreed @pkingmartin. Normally I hope for consistency, but with this only getting a 3.5, I'm hoping we're looking at increasing quality.
This is going to be really interesting to find out how these 3 batches compare. It also appears that we both made tonight a 15 year bourbon night.