Barrell Bourbon Batch 009

Pours a clear golden orange color with big legs. Smells quite oaky, lots of wood, vanilla, coconut, caramel, rye spice, something a little bready and mineraly too. Taste has a nice rich caramel and molasses sort of thing going on, minerals, a little spicebox in the middle and finish. Oaky without being overly so, which is certainly in my wheelhouse. Mouthfeel is rich and coating, lots of alcohol heat, but in a pleasant, mellow way, with a finish that lasts a while. Overall, this is fabulous stuff, complex and balanced, great. Compares favorably to my favorite bourbons. Beer Nerd Musings: The notion of each batch being unique (and not just from a “each single barrel is unique” sort of situation) is interesting and certainly speaks to the explosion of craft beer offerings. I mean, it’s not Tired Hands with their ~300 different named beers a year, but there’s something to be said for the experience of drinking something you know you’ll probably never get again. I have not ever had a beer aged in a George Dickel barrel, but they do exist, even if they don’t seem particularly common. There are some beers that only specify being aged in a Tennessee whiskey barrel, which I suppose could also mean Dickel. If this bourbon is any indication, I think these barrels would work pretty well with beer (though this is perhaps too good to waste on homebrew!)

Nose: somewhat sweet but strong ethanol, smoke, leather, dried fruit and vanilla. Palate: very full body and syrupy. Oak, sweet, spicy, but very hot! Flavors linger for quite awhile. This stuff is pretty good overall. For me it comes down to value as well, and this bottle runs $80. I would go with Elijah Craig Barrel proof for being a bit better overall and lower priced.

On the nose, concentrated caramel, butterscotch, some musty notes. On the palate, sweetness (although, not nearly as much as batches 006 and 007), oak, cinnamon, and some medicinal accents. Medium mouthfeel. Hints of bitter chocolate and peanuts creep up after a few sips. Long, warm finish that spreads from the mouth to the throat to the whole midsection. 3/15/17

Cinnamon and leather on the nose . Flavors of oak , leather, toasted nuts . Nice mouthfeel but short unexceptional finish despite the proof

Buttery and not overly sweet with a velvety mouthfeel. Really good!

Carmel and vanilla