Barrell Dovetail (122.9 Proof)

Ever witness a cartoon image of evil candy? And no, I don't mean crack. I mean toes that look like candy corn with fangs and claws, and a booty of grisly promiscuity that straddles the line of legality. That is what ran through my mind during my initial sip of this fabulous dram. And as this year's Halloween festivities may go down as the most disappointing in contemporary history, I figured that this whiskey merits a review. The nose is greeted by aromas of grape jelly and spicy cinnamon. Quite inviting, and it appears that this trick-or-treater is wearing sandals. Fortunately for us, the subject drinks like a teenager (so prone to celebrate Halloween in the occasion of a coronavirus orgy vis-à-vis party). And what a party bringer this is: the palate is molasses-inflected, flowing into dark fruity sweetness, before developing into rum-flavored cane sugar. (I borrow liberally from @BeppeCovfefe for his succinct notes.) The mouthfeel is viscous and syrupy. The finish proves to be astringent and drying, but minimally bitter. I think we have a virgin here, my fellow conspirators! But damn - if I haven't sold my soul to the Devil yet - this is the smoothest cask strength whiskey I've ever come across. (Virgin it is, perhaps, but one that is a hustler or a gangster. One who shall never admit to virginity or wrong-doing -- well, at least, not beyond it's infant years.) At a blistering 61.45% abv, the Dovetail rocks more like a 50% liquor, with most of the proof felt tingling on the tongue. It's literally the calm at the center of a brooding storm. This is the first spirit I've encountered where an indulgent sweetness has been successfully amplified by the alcohol volume without hammering me into numb submission. It's like drinking cask strength Manischewitz wine, as the dark liquid coated my throat with sticky nectar. And like a real-life teenager, there is very little balance - but enough maturity to be competent. I want more, however, as I partake in the vitals of the victim. Adding a teaspoon of water and the mouthfeel is a bit lighter, but remains thick, while tempering the dry astringency. (A tad disappointing, considering how a splash of water in Barrell's Whiskey American Vatted Malt turned the body into the most superlative whisk(e)y mouthfeel I've known... but at this point, I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth.) With further attention to the finish -- i.e. tongue smacking -- herbaceous and dark spice notes pop and play out into a light oak bitterness. (Yes, I can taste the parental DNA as I take away my victim's life water.) This takes to H2O very well, but I prefer it neat. When taken so, it is a masterfully blended indulgence, with a thick mouthfeel weighted towards dark sweets and a malt body. Again, it isn't even close to being balanced - as the sweet notes border on cloying - but the ABV will not set my undead palate free. At the end of my voracious bloodletting, I am left with a husk, mirroring the snappy ride that went through my palate. True, the name itself "Dovetail" is relevant to woodwork, where the joints are formed by interlocking segments. And in this case, the segments are the casks involved: rum, cabernet, and port. But like any universally constant ideal, the qualities derived are subject to variance, question, evaluation, and even, denial. And in this particular instance, I'll have to revive my subject to find a permanent place for it in my collection - even if it means entombing it in stone - simply because it's so astoundingly smooth. Thanks @jonwilkinson7309 for the hearty recommendation.

Rating: 17/23 N: Maple, some barrel char. A hint of some sweet tropical fruit. There's some maple and a little caramel. There's something a dash like a dry waxy tartness. P: There's a definite rum influence here. It's sweet and kind of complex, but could be off-putting to some. I get sweet but rich and restrained tropical fruits (banana, rich orange, and pineapple at least) with maple, a bit of something like dried tart cherry, some char, and some kind of rich herbal funk. I feel like there's some vanilla in here, but I'm having trouble identifying it. I do get a dash of waxiness as well. This is solidly complex, though not amazingly so. The balance is very good, though a bit toward the sweet side. There's some good richness and fullness, though not as much as from a super mature cask strength offering. Overall, it's a very nice palate, though I have trouble telling whether it is a bourbon aged in a rum barrel or a rum aged in a bourbon barrel. I'd probably guess the bourbon in a rum barrel because there isn't enough firework flavor here, but it's oddly tough. I get some of the Appleton Estate 12 stateliness, but also a bit of that youthful but vibrant Plantation Xaymaca vibe. And then just some maple, kind of caramel sweetness. F: The sweetness and fruit largely fade and the char remains along with some of the less full flavors. It's a decent finish, but not nearly as good as the nose. - Conclusion - This is a fun dram. It's good and likely to appeal to novices with its sweet, fruity flavors. I like it, but it doesn't quite have the complexity, balance, and refinement I would expect of a top-tier dram. In terms of interesting finished bourbons, my preference is definitely for the more restrained Blood Oath Pact 6. Considering that, this is at most an 18. I would put this ahead of a well-oxidized Russell's Reserve 10, so this is in the 17 to 18 range. I feel like I like the increased complexity over the Russell's a lot, but the rum sweetness is fairly brash. I would label this the superior dram, but not by an incredible margin. To me, the rum just stands out too much here, so this needs to be a 17 rather than an 18. I can certainly imagine upping this to an 18 on a subsequent tasting, but I originally thought that this might be as high as a 20 and I just don't see that happening now. Thank you @pkingmartin for the sample :)

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!

* Nose - Plums, figs, and raisin… assorted dried red fruit is perfectly balanced on the nose. Cinnamon and spice behind it. There’s definite traces of ethanol that you’d expect at this high proof, but it doesn’t overpower the nose like you’d expect/worry. Going back after it’s sit a few minutes brings some sweet bread and vanilla pudding. * Taste - First sip is stunning. Cinnamon, dried fruit, and a bright blast of vanilla. Sweet bread, spice cake, and anise on the back of the palate come through strong later on. I can’t place it exactly, but it’s delightful. One of the most beautifully complex whiskeys I’ve ever tasted. * Finish - Long and powerful. I never understood the “Kentucky Hug” so much until I tasted this. The taste lingers and warms your chest. Oh, this is just a lovely winter bourbon. * Uniqueness - Barrell comes up with some of the most unique and finely-crafted whiskey blends in the game right now, and it shows that they’re masters of the craft. A whiskey blend finished in rum barrels, port pipes, and Cabernet casks and becomes… this? Amazing. * Value - I was able to snag this on sale ($75) and I may go back and get a second to save for later. $85 for a bottle is steep for me, but… this is probably the most unique, different, and delicious whiskey I may have tasted in my relatively young bourbon/whiskey journey. (MSRP $85)

Tannic notes on the nose, I can smell the red wine. Nose is very sweet, but unique. comparable to angels envy Body is hot, lots of cinnamon and red hot candy. Finish has considerable burn Overall, I think this bourbon is a hit overpriced. I’m not the biggest fan, but I think people who like some heat would enjoy it. I need to try the other Barrell expressions- this one wasn’t impressive. The nose is the best part unfortunately. The various finishes seem to be more for novelty rather than flavor, as I don’t think the taste of this whiskey is very good or complex. Much better off buying ECBP in this price range.

I’ve considered picking this up for some time, but was able to get a sample, and glad I did before buying. What I like about the Seagrass is that I can taste a bit of all of the secondary finishes, and they all play well with the rye. In this one, it seems like the balance is off, as the rum influence overpowers the other finishes. I have played with adding a little rum to some of my whiskies as a poor man’s take on rum-finished whiskey, and I’ve noticed that it takes very little to significantly change the experience. I have enjoyed this sample, but I don’t think I’ll be a buyer.