Barrell Bourbon New Year 2023

Figured I've nipped the 2022 and 2023 enough and in the mood for a couple rates tonight, so here it goes. This whiskey has a wonderful peanut butter nose that seriously reminds me of a Reese's PB Cup...boasting of chocolatey sweetness (maybe a skosh of oreo cookie?), peanut brittle, caramel, some fruits, and even some light flowery notes on the edges...its interesting and pretty damn great. The palate is enjoyable, but downright "vanilla" compared to the nose. Generally sweet, but not complex...hints of brown sugar, mildly roasted peanuts, a hint of chocolate if I search, and well, otherwise, just a characteristic bourbon, with a bit of back end ethanol that reminds you this is a 115ish proofer. Mouthfeel is average...not particularly viscous, but not thin either. Overall this is a really nice whiskey...but let's be fair, the palate/flavors keep this from being an absolute banger...like 4.75ish...and this was a bit of a surprise as I'd guess the palate has been the show on the vast majority of Barrell products (of which I am a big fan) I've enjoyed. This is quite good, and admittedly unique, and while the palate was a bit of a downer, I'm definitely happy to have this bottle on my shelf...

Aroma - smells like a candy shop… loads of chocolate notes and sugar candies. Very floral and tons of sweet fruits….Candied-apples and mixed berries…cinnamon graham cracker. Some honey-like cereal notes as well. This is an insanely sweet, aromatic whiskey. Very unique. No alcohol or oak presence whatsoever. Taste - Not what I was expecting… As complex the nose was, the palate is polar opposite. It’s still sweet but this almost seems too well balanced as far as tasting notes go.. Not overly complex at all. Caramel, cotton-candy, more sugar candy and slight chocolate notes. All very subtle. The alcohol presence is quite pronounced especially on the back of the palate and in the finish. Overall - Nose is wild and fantastic.. very unique and might not be for everyone especially if you enjoy the traditional flavors of oak, caramel and vanilla. The complexity on the palate is lacking for a BCS product. If you gravitate more towards the traditional flavors then this will be a strong avoid in my opinion. However, if you enjoy exploring whiskies that offer a unique experience, then this might be something worth looking into.

First uncorking. 🍾 Let sit for about 5 minutes. 👀: Medium copper, looks viscous and oily at first glance, legs are thick indicating the high proof; 👃: Fruit basket, soft baking spices, butterscotch for sure, vanilla and cherry, not much hint of the alcohol at all; 👅: Caramel and cotton candy, luscious fruits, sweet honey, butterscotch once again, toffee; 🏁: Soft and sweet finish, almost tastes like you just finished a caramel candy, you're taken to bourbon heaven with this one, no hint of alcohol whatsoever, this deserves more than 5 stars!

This is a rich, remarkably smooth iteration that has somewhat of a caramel apple character. A bit of heat, but not what you might expect. Upon the opening, it appears somewhat fruity and sweet; but after a few minutes, the wood joins in the fun, creating a dry and elegant finish. Interestingly, the flavors hit all three areas of the palate, each lending a different note. At the tail end, there is a slightly prickly cinnamon tone that seems to ask for just one more sip.

Barnyard sawdust on the nose with vanilla, caramel and orange. Palate brings peanut butter cup, cherry cola, caramel, cocoa, apple pie, oak, and some underlying dill or rosemary. It’s very good. Finishes with a hint of mint. High octane. Suggests big things. Oof, you let me down, 2023.

Thanks Ryan! Aroma is rich with loads of vanilla and oak, and perhaps some mint. Flavor is caramel, coffee, rich with a long oaky linger, and again a hint of mint. Delicious.