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Barrell Vantage

Vantage highlights the blending expertise that defines Barrell Craft Spirits and is an exciting step forward in our never-ending journey to take bourbon to new heights.

 

Our unique vantage point in the whiskey world, combined with a passion for experimentation and nuance, has inspired us to produce a blend with impeccable balance and depth of flavor. Barrell Vantage is the result of deliberately pairing specifically identified bourbons with carefully selected cooperage, giving rise to a final expression that focuses on the subtle flavors and their compounding profiles.

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Vantage is a blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak: Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak casks. The result is a warm, elegant bourbon that highlights the many dimensions of oak.

 

The BCS team has drawn on years of experience with three-part barrel finishing, used previously in Armida, Dovetail, and Seagrass. With Vantage, those same techniques were applied to the oak itself, using different char levels, toast levels, and oak origins to create a multidimensional blend.

 

Each component whiskey in Vantage is finished separately, then systematically combined according to a blending process fueled in equal parts by a scientific approach, experience, creativity, and experimentation. This process focuses on the wood characteristics and the specific flavor contributions that each cask contributes to the blend. The result is a masterfully blended, perfectly balanced representation of the harmonious synergy between bourbon and barrel.

  • Whisky Advocate Top 20 Whiskies of 2022

  • CIGAR & SPIRITS - Gold

  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL at the John Barleycorn Awards - 2022

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Barrell Vantage

VANTAGE

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Barrell Vantage Ranks #3

Top 20 Whiskies of 2022

FLAVOR NOTES

Selected Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak casks create multifaceted dimensions to this unique blend. The unique aspects of each wood and treatment are layered atop one another, precluding the singular taste of oak. The nose is creamy, spicy, and resinous, and the palate is richly textured and oily, soaked with barrel influence.

 

Neat

Appearance: Burnt sienna.

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Nose: Creme brûlée, coconut oil, and chocolate pudding invoke the creamy richness of toasted American oak. Tarragon, nutmeg, and warm cola are among the dry, extractive spices highlighting the French oak. Mizunara’s incense and grilled pineapple notes, meanwhile, take the profile in a totally different direction.

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Palate: Sweet and oily with a pronounced espresso note. It’s pleasantly rich on the tongue, which obscures much of the tannin – surprising given how much wood is present. The French oak’s robust spice notes inflect a maple syrup sweetness.

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Finish: Green grapes and red plums burst above the barrel notes for the first time. It’s spicy, too, with za’atar, crystallized ginger and Szechuan peppercorns.

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With a splash of spring water

The nose grows earthier, exhibiting graham cracker and dark chocolate. The spirit’s rye grain emerges, not just with pumpernickel but also celery and chive blossom. The palate grows sweeter, tasting of maraschino liqueur and pavlova. It finishes on grapefruit zest and kola nut.

NOTABLE PRESS FOR VANTAGE
 
EveryDay Drinker mentions Vantage as one of the Top 6 Bourbons That Get Better With Time.


The Bourbon Hutch highly recommends Vantage in this roundup of 7 Whiskeys Absolutely Worth Your Money.



Home Business includes Barrell Vantage in the article, “28 Gifts that Dadpreneurs Will Love for Father’s Day,” calling it a perfect Father’s Day gift for the dads who enjoy fine bourbon.



Hiconsumption
lists Barrell Vantage as Best Cask-Finished Whiskey in “The 12 Best Small-Batch Bourbon Whiskeys to Drink.”


The Bourbon Van includes Vantage in this video titled "You Only Need 5 Bourbons,” calling it “very satisfying.”


My Bourbon Journey reviews Vantage, calling it a "really incredible whiskey."


Black Bourbon Family highly recommends Vantage as a bourbon to try if you're just getting into finished whiskey. Watch the full review!Uproxx includes Vantage in “The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked,” saying "This is just great whiskey from one of the most interesting blenders working in all of whiskey right now."


Uproxx includes Vantage in this roundup of The Absolute Best Bourbon Whiskey Between $70-$80, Ranked, saying “Barrell Craft Spirits doesn’t miss.”


Newsweek calls Vantage "an excellent addition to your liquor cabinet" in the article, "11 Must Try Bourbons, Gins, Tequilas and Canned Cocktails for 2023."


EveryDay Drinker includes Vantage in their roundup of the Best Bourbons to Ring in 2023, saying it's blended beautifully.


EveryDay Drinker includes Vantage in their roundup of the 7 Must-Have Barrel Proof Bourbons.


Maxim includes Vantage in "The Best ‘Second Finish’ American Whiskeys of 2022," saying BCS has mastered the art of three-barrel finishing.


Whiskeyfellow names Vantage their 2022 Bourbon of The Year Runner Up.


EveryDay Drinker includes Vantage and Batch 033 in their roundup of the Top 10 Bourbons Released in 2022, calling Batch 033 "absolutely fantastic."


It's Bourbon Night includes Vantage in their roundup of The 25 Most Notable Bourbons of 2022, calling it "very approachable."


Breaking Bourbon
includes Vantage in their roundup of the "Best Finished Whiskeys," saying, "you’ll want to have a spare on hand so you can keep this finely tuned finished whiskey flowing."


Whisky Advocate ranks Barrell Vantage #3 in their Top 20: The Most Exciting Whiskies of 2022.


Stuff & Whiskey sips on Vantage, saying the balance of flavors is "a testament to Barrell's blending."


Drinkhacker reviews Vantage, saying, "it’s remarkably even keeled with the balance and depth of a really well-aged bourbon and the vibrancy of something younger and a bit more exotic."


Robb Report lists Barrell Vantage as the "Best Cask Finish Whiskey" in the article, "The 15 Best Whiskey Brands, From Bourbon to Scotch."


Nashville Scene features Barrell Vantage, calling it "a remarkable bourbon, deeply complex and dimensional thanks to the combinations of woods and char levels."


Wine and Whiskey Globe highlights Vantage, calling it “Another powerful and powerfully rich offering from the blender.”


The Bourbon Whiskey Library reviews Vantage. "This is certainly one to check out if you've ever been on the fence about any Barrell product. The blending is exquisite and the finishes are spot on."


Amongst the Whiskey reviews Vantage, calling it "an incredibly comforting pour."


Brewzle sips on Vantage, describing the mouthfeel as "next-level."


Dads Drinking Bourbon reviews Vantage, noting creme brulee on the nose and calling it "damn good."


Eat Kentucky Podcast reviews Vantage, calling it "an excellent fall and winter pour."


Breaking Bourbon reviews Barrell Vantage, calling it “a sweet spot between uniqueness, intensity, and drinkability.”


UPROXX includes Barrell Vantage in a blind tasting of ‘Special Finished’ Bourbons.


Good Spirits News reviews Barrell Vantage, saying "it should be on the shortlist for American Blended Bourbon of the year.”


Your Drinking Buddy tastes Vantage, noting “soft oak and delicate honey” on the nose. 


Distilled Brewed & Reviewed sips on Vantage, describing notes of cinnamon toast crunch cereal, candied orange, and graham cracker pie crust. 


The Average Drinker reviews Vantage, calling it "mind-blowing" and "super unique."


Tipsy Whiskey Shenanigans reviews Vantage, noting that it's "bright and vibrant."


Whiskey Tornado reviews Vantage, saying it's "a really good blend."


EveryDay Drinker reviews Vantage, calling it “complex” and “fantastic.”


Power of Bourbon sips on Vantage, saying, "this palate takes you for a ride" and "it makes you want to come back for more."


Whiskey Raiders reviews Vantage, saying, "It's brimming with unique flavors, tied in with familiar ones."


UPROXX calls Vantage “a fun and fresh whiskey” in “The 30 Best Bourbon Whiskeys For Fall, Blind Tasted & Ranked.”


Imbibe features Barrell Vantage in their “Drink of the Week” article, describing it as "rich and bold." 


Man of Many features Barrell Vantage. “Each component whiskey is finished separately and then masterfully combined with the others by way of an expert technique.”


The Lexington Herald-Leader features Barrell Vantage.


Dusty Dan’s Whiskey Reviews sips on Vantage, describing it as “an amazing experience.”


Those Bourbon Guys taste Vantage, noting layers of complexity.


Whisky Advocate features Barrell Vantage, saying, "Barrell is showcasing both its mastery as a blender and a cask finisher."


Paste Magazine reviews Vantage, stating, "If there’s one blender out there in the bourbon space that can always be relied upon to keep pushing the boundaries of experimentation, it’s Barrell Craft Spirits."


Whiskeyfellow reviews Vantage, saying it’s "easy to sip."


The Mash and Drum sips on Barrell Vantage.


The Bourbon Judge tastes Vantage, calling it a “unique expression” and ruling it a “buy.”


Weekly Whiskey reviews Vantage, calling it an "extremely approachable" bourbon.


Inside Hook features Gray Label Dovetail and Vantage in “The Best New Whiskeys to Drink This September.”


The Truth is Barrel Proof Podcast reviews Vantage, calling it a “solid finished product.”


Whiskey in my Wedding Ring reviews Barrell Vantage, noting, “Each of the oak species used are clear at different points in the experience, and each brings something to the blend.”

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