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Barrell Rye Batch 004

10-year-old Indiana Rye barrels with notes of brown sugar and a touch of smoke had 5 and 6-year-old barrels layered in for fruit and spice character. 14-year-old Canadian barrels were added for their dry herbal notes. The result is fruit-forward rye with layers of depth.

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BLEND COMPONENTS:

Indiana: 5, 6, & 10 years old

Tennessee: 5 years old

Kentucky: 6 years old

Canadian: 14 years old


DERIVED MASH BILL:

Rye: 89%

Corn: 7%

Malted Barley: 4%

  • A blend of straight Rye Whiskeys

  • Bottled in Kentucky

  • 115.7 proof cask strength bottling

AWARDS​​​​

  • Whisky Advocate Rating of 91

  • Fred Minnick (2023)

    • #39 on the Top 100 Spirits

  • Men's Journal (2023)

    • Best Cask Strength Rye Whiskey​

  • Whiskey Raiders 2023 Best Whiskey Awards

FLAVOR NOTES

This rye blend highlights rye’s earthier side, featuring notes of tobacco, leather, and mole poblano. Its stewed fruit and wilder savory character recall the syrahs of France’s Rhône valley: blackberry and tapenade on the nose followed by flavors of bresaola and black pepper.

Neat

Appearance: Copper penny with pumpkin highlights.

Nose: Blackberry, dried apricot and Concord grape lead off. The grape introduces woodsy tones of blonde tobacco, birch oil and dandelion root. Rye lends its familiar bouquet garni, lemon verbena, and peppermint aromatics. Meanwhile an unhurried maturation has produced cashew, tahini and nocino.

PalateThe first impression mirrors the nose but here grape soda is joined by a dark amber maple syrup. Burnt marshmallow leads into rich espresso and black licorice. There’s a deep umami presence of leather, black olive, and grilled onion. The oak here is strong and extractive yielding clove, coconut oil, and pine needle.

Finish: A burst of blanche armagnac and rosewater volatiles make way for the piquant heat of mole poblano and black pepper on the tongue. The lingering impression is of juniper, thyme, and wormwood.

With a splash of spring water

The nose is completely transformed into something bright and fresh, featuring brioche, ricotta, and lychee. Its sweeter side has the nostalgic reverie of vanilla salt-water taffy and mint chocolate chip ice cream. By contrast, the palate’s notes of pumpernickel and Dijon mustard maintain its focus on the savory. The finish is resinous, developing mastic, rosemary, and lavender.

PRESS

Paste Magazine includes Barrell Rye Batch 004 and Barrell Foundation in their list of the Best Whiskeys of 2023.

Inside Hook lists Barrell Rye Batch 004 as one of its 10 Best High-Proof Rye Whiskeys in 2024, calling it "excellent and complex"

The Bourbon Van reviews Barrell Batch 035, Rye Batch 004, and the Cask Finish Series.

Fred Minnick tastes Barrell Rye Batch 004 and Bourbon Batch 035 saying Batch 035 "might be the best whiskey I've had from them" and calling Rye Batch 004 "a brilliant rye"

My Bourbon Journey reviews Rye Batch 004, saying, “The layers of this rye whiskey are absolutely fantastic.”

Whiskey Raiders calls Barrell Rye Batch 004 a "mega rye" in "The 8 Best Whiskeys We Tasted In September 2023."

Bourbon Kingdom sips on Batch 035 and Rye Batch 004

It’s Bourbon Night reviews Batch 035 and Rye Batch 004.

Bourbon and BS Podcast tastes some new Barrell releases.

Whiskey Raiders reviews Barrell Rye Batch 004 saying, "if rye is your thing, look no farther" 

Breaking Bourbon reviews Barrell Rye Batch 004 reporting, "Barrell Craft Spirits' blending capability is again put into focus with this batch, which doubles down on pure drinkability above all else."

UPROXX includes Rye Batch 004 and Cask Finish: Tale of Two Islands in "The Best Whiskeys We Tasted At The 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Festival."

Whiskey Raiders lists Batch 035 and Rye Batch 004 in their recent article, Monthly Roundup: Top Whiskeys Released in August 2023.

UPROXX calls Rye Batch 004 "stellar rye whiskey," and says that Batch 035 is "another homerun from the Barrell Craft Spirits crew."

InsideHook features Batch 035 and Rye Batch 004 in "The Best New Whiskeys to Drink This September."

Whiskey is a Journey tastes five Barrell releases in their Friday Flight Fight. Watch to find out which blend takes first place!

Those Bourbon Guys taste Rye Batch 004, calling it, "extraordinarily well-balanced."

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