BARRELL WHISKEY
®
For us, the American Whiskey category is all about creativity. Fewer rules and regulations than bourbon means a winder cannon of options. This allows us to be more experimental when it comes to sourcing, blending, and creating batches of whiskey that are truly greater than the sum of their parts. Our goal is simple, but audacious: Become the most creative, forward-thinking, and progressive whiskey blenders in the nation.
That doesn’t mean we’re compromising our principles. We’re still meticulous in sourcing the best whiskeys and finishing casks from our favorite producers around the world. A global mindset and years of experience in the industry mean we can get our hands on rare and unusual whiskeys that no other company can.
When blending every limited-edition batch, our goal is always to create whiskeys that are unique and expressive of their ingredients. That philosophy is reflected in our transparent labeling, which gives you as much information as possible about exactly what’s in the bottle. Think of it as a road map to a brand-new whiskey experience.
BATCH 005
American Whiskey Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky
Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
118.4 proof cask strength bottling
9-years-old
Aged in American white oak barrels; finished in Bourbon, American brandy, and Amaro barrels, and Cognac casks
Mash bill: corn, rye (high and low), malted barley
FLAVOR NOTES
Barrell Whiskey Batch 005 is a spice driven blend of 9-year-old whiskeys finished in Amaro barrels, American Brandy barrels, Bourbon barrels, and Cognac casks. We finished each whiskey separately and assembled a final blend that also includes Straight Bourbon. This finish then blend technique allows us to focus on the key flavors of each component first, and then on harmony and precision while blending. We believe that this batch is far greater than the sum of its parts.
A balance of honey and spice, this whiskey conjures memories of old candy shops and autumn drams. Enjoy a dark, brooding sweetness balanced with wood and a hint of fire. The 118.4 proof unravels into long folds of complexity and contrast.
Neat
Appearance: A core of worn copper tapering out to golden straw edges.
Nose: Sweet and captivating, with inviting aromas of apple pie drizzled with spring blossom honey, caramel corn and honeysuckle. It’s punctuated with robust notes of resinous herbs (rosemary, bay leaf) and enriched by soft, savory tones (velouté, crushed almond).
Palate: It opens sweet and herbaceous, with notes of molasses, maple sugar, Mary Jane candies, and licorice root.
Finish: Mouthwatering, with a spicy signature of clove oil, red chili oil, and Rainier cherries.
With a few drops of spring water
The whiskey gets juicier, bringing out nose and palate notes of violet, purple plum, blackberry, candied walnut, and shiso. The palate sees greater development still, growing earthier and more complex (autumn leaves, peat moss, and pu-erh tea).
PRESS FOR BATCH 005
BATCH 004
Cask strength American whiskey
Distilled in Indiana and Tennessee
Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
120.6 proof cask strength bottling
Aged for 11 Years in used American oak barrels
Finished in rum casks and rye barrels
Mash bill: corn, rye, malted barley
AWARDS:
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San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2017)
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Gold
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Ultimate Spirits Challenge (2017)
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Finalist
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95 Points
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Whisky Advocate rating of 93
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Wine Enthusiast rating of 90
FLAVOR NOTES
Barrell Whiskey 004 was distilled in Indiana and Tennessee and aged for 11 years in used American oak barrels, then finished in rum casks and rye barrels and bottled in Kentucky at 120.6 proof. We selected barrels of a Tennessee bourbon and an Indiana whiskey for this batch. Separately, the two whiskeys were finished in either rum casks left over from Barrell Rum Batch 001 production, or rye barrels to add structure and spice. We made four combinations: Tennessee whiskey finished in rum casks, Tennessee whiskey finished in rye barrels, Indiana whiskey finished in rum casks, and Indiana whiskey finished in rye barrels. We then selected and blended a number of barrels of both whiskeys with both finishes to create something really special.
Caramelized pineapple, rich warm coconut milk and nutmeg give way to steaming spice stone fruit compote and raw cacao. The 120.6 proof beguiles with faint whiffs of Caribbean forest and complex aromatics like cardamom, clove, and kaffir lime. Vanilla paste mingles with puffs of cinnamon swirled sweet butter atop crunchy sourdough toast.
Neat
Appearance: Sun dried golden hay at the edges meets deep, viscous butterscotch legs that meld into the burnished copper core. Spins of the wrist flick light through and across yielding bursts of gold.
Nose: Sweet tropical fruits mixed with deeply saturated wood and banana leaves. Lingering vanilla and freshly crushed sugar cane melts into corn fritters and citrus oil.
Palate: Creamy milk sugar and caramelized plantains abound amidst smoky homemade butterscotch pudding. Richly textured, each sip leads to a drying finish that surprises and delights.
Finish: Cascading smoke and fat coat the inside of the mouth. Roasted grapefruit and sweet and tangy lemon curd follow providing a sumptuous end that you will want to repeat.
With a few drops of spring water
This whiskey takes on a softer texture, teeming with dark chocolate and cast iron cornbread. Further sips evoke fruit and sea salt as the liquid coats the tongue and mouth, culminating in a mesmerizing finish.
Tasting Notes by Warren Bobrow, The Cocktail Whisperer
PRESS FOR BATCH 004
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The Whiskey Reviewer calls Barrell Whiskey Batch 004 an “extravagant drinking experience”
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Whisky advocate rates barrell whiskey batch 001 a 90
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Bourbon Scout reviews Barrell Bourbon Batch 011 and Barrell Whiskey Batch 004
BATCH 003
Distilled in Tennessee
Aged in Tennessee and Kentucky
Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
105.3 proof cask strength bottling
Aged for 5 years in American white oak barrels
Marriage of 20% Sherry butt finished and 80% Port pipe finished whiskey
Mash bill: corn, rye, malted barley
AWARDS:
-
Wine Enthusiast rating of 93
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Whiskey Advocate rating of 89
FLAVOR NOTES
Hot and sweet Rainier cherries in a salty, butter-rich flaky pie crust in the nose with hints of caramelized nuts and broiled grapefruit. Charred raw sugar emerges along with English Trifle and Oloroso Sherry to sustain a multi-minute finish evoking the cask this liquid was born in. Dry butter biscuits and bursts of stone fruit jam over hot corn hush puppies delight the drinker.
Neat
Appearance: Deeply burnished copper and molten gold with darker swirls of late fall leaves and brick dust. Swirls of the wrist reveal more complex shades reminiscent of black tea and rare Pedro Ximénez Sherry.
Nose: Fire roasted corn, black cherries and a tantalizing burst of tangerine oil in the nose weave their way up your nose, gentling warming your nostrils with 105.3 proof heat. Each further sniff reveals an aroma recalling hot pot pie with slowly roasted root vegetables, steaming hot butter, and a rich and flaky hand-turned pastry crust.
Palate: Juicy caramelized summer fruit swirl across the tongue. Each sip is luxurious and reminiscent of fine sherry. Dollops of bittersweet chocolate dipped walnuts, wet saddle leather, and a crisp dryness contribute to sips of uncommon depth and balance.
Finish: Rich sweet cream with bursts of mineral tinged sea salt and sun-bleached oak. Sherry-soaked bread pudding punctuated by a final flourish of cinnamon bark and sugar cane simple syrup.
With a few drops of spring water
Smooth and creamy across the upper palate and through the nose with a frosting of sea salt and sweet, sherry soaked wood. Each further sips lead to a multi-minute conclusion permeated by dollops of smoky raw honey and seeded rye toast in steaming hot lemon curd dotted with oily orange zests across the tongue, spilling headlong down the throat.
Tasting Notes by Warren Bobrow, The Cocktail Whisperer
PRESS FOR BATCH 003
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Taster's Club talks to founder Joe Beatrice and reviews Barrell Whiskey batch 003
BATCH 002
Sherry Cask Finish
Distilled in Indiana
Aged in Kentucky Bottled at 123.8 proof
Aged for 9 years, 5 months
Mash bill: corn, rye, malted barley
AWARDS:
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San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2016)
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Double Gold
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Whisky Advocate rating of 84
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Wine Enthusiast rating of 93
FLAVOR NOTES
Luxuriant Sherry-soaked graham cracker crust peach cobbler leaps onto the tongue and immediately leads to mustardy slices of crusty rye bread. It continues with flavors of caramelized brown butter and warm vanilla custard accompanied by broiled grapefruit. The 123.8 Proof is unmistakable yet rich, soothing, and understated.
Neat
Appearance: Golden light seeps out of a slightly thick backdrop. Each swirl of this unctuous nine-and-a-half-year-old Cask Strength whiskey offers radiant droplets saturated with the natural oils and fats.
Nose: Graham cracker crusted late summer peach cobbler with a deeply tantalizing whiff of both Sherry and splashes of wet saddle leather. Uncured Virginia tobacco leaf spring through a veneer of Rainier Cherry jam melting over sizzling hot rye bread.
Palate: First sips are full of sweet honey swirled deeply with fine sherry wine as they deepen and build into surges of steaming hot, slow cooked, hand ground grits.
Finish: Rich and sumptuous flavors reveal themselves behind the folds of the creamy sherry cask finished whiskey. Sips evoke ham biscuits slathered with a mustardy slaw of carrots and raisins, leading to a multi-minute experience that is worth savoring.
With a few drops of spring water
Smoldering cedar wood dipped in spicy and sweet pepper jam leads immediately to dense droplets old sherry wine woven into the liquid gold of this elegantly crafted sip. The used whiskey cask imparts layers of depth, while shavings of cedar pencil across the tongue give way to helpings of long cooked summer plums and piping hot, melted sweet butter.
Tasting Notes by Warren Bobrow, The Cocktail Whisperer
PRESS FOR BATCH 002
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Bourbon Scout calls Barrell Whiskey batch 002 "a hell of a whiskey"
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A Drink with Forrest says that Barrell Whiskey batch 002 "is a gem. It shows you how amazing this style of whiskey can be."
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Wine Enthusiast lists Barrell Whiskey batch 002 as a perfect gift for mothers day
BATCH 001
Aged in Kentucky
Distilled in Indiana
Bottled at 122.5 proof
Aged for 7 years in charred white oak barrels
Mash bill: corn, rye, malted barley
AWARDS:
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San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2015)
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Double Gold
-
-
Ultimate Spirits Challenge (2015)
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Finalist
-
93 Points
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-
Whisky Advocate rating of 92
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Wine Enthusiast rating of 91
FLAVOR NOTES
Blended from 7 and 8 year-old whiskeys aged in oak, this American Whiskey is unlike any other. Imagine a brioche French toast dripping with fresh-churned butter and dark maple syrup. With each bite, a spiciness reminiscent of fine, stone ground chocolate lingers in the back of the mouth. Soft to the palate throughout, the next sip is always welcome. The mash is a mix of corn, rye, and malted barley. Akin to a “Vatted Malt,” no neutral grain spirit is added. We do not chill filter, a common practice that removes natural, flavor rich oils. Only a coarse particulate filter strains the small bits of charred oak surrendered by the barrel. Like many great whiskeys, this spirit has aged gently in ex-bourbon barrels. As much as we love the intense flavor of a bourbons, the abundant wood sugars in the new barrels required for their production mask many subtler, complex flavors. This spirit’s patient aging in used cooperage yields a drier dram open to revealing these subtle essences of taste.
Crusty, egg battered brioche – French toast dripping in butter and dark maple syrup. Brooding alcohol explodes right up front, no mistaking the 122.5 Proof stuffing of each slurp. Thin rivulets of bruleed corn pudding. Rich swirls of darkly scented, spicy Mexican chocolate become soft eruptions at the finish, leaving you with visions of the next sip.
Neat
Appearance: Brilliant and golden, deeply shimmering and clear at the edges.
Nose: Sweet tobacco, bittersweet chocolate nibs, crushed persimmon.
Palate: Anson Mills-Stone Ground Grits with long cooked stone fruits.
Finish: Great curves, irresistible, sensory, leading to a lightly toasted hazelnut brittle.
With a few drops of spring water
Appearance: Deeply golden in color, ever-present natural haze from mouth coating fats.
Nose: Cut herbs enfolded in sweet cream- evolving into drying acidity.
Palate: Creamy and elegant – minced pipe tobacco and aged fruitcake.
Finish: Crushed schist dripping in raw honey simple syrup.
Tasting Notes by Warren Bobrow, The Cocktail Whisperer
PRESS FOR BATCH 001