Nose - butterscotch, overripe banana, black cherry, molasses, cornbread, vanilla, cinnamon, dry herbal notes, cocoa, rich oak, roasted peanut, old book, musky deodorant, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - butterscotch, strawberry jam, spearmint, overripe banana, sweet oak, orange zest, chili pepper, vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, cherry, ginger, cocoa, bitter herbal notes, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with spearmint, overripe banana, and herbal flavors. After a brief intermission, I’m back with more Barrell reviews. This is another heavily finished offering with rum, port, and cabernet in the mix. The rum component is certainly not shy. Buttery, overripe banana and molasses leap from the glass. Sweet cornbread, red fruit, and dry, musky, oaky herbs round out a nice bouquet. While the rum finish is present on the palate as well, the port component strikes me first. Jammy red fruits, baking spices, and earthy spearmint abound. And it drinks hotter, brighter, and bitterer than I’d prefer. The mouthfeel and finish are average. I was very hopeful when I first nosed this, but youth and bitterness dominate the palate unfortunately. I have a similar impression here that I did with Seagrass. I’d love to try a 16 Year Dovetail release, but the standard offering isn’t special. I suspect a more aged expression could be magnificent. But as it is, this is better than average at best for me. Many thanks to @pkingmartin for the generous sample!