Barrell Bourbon Batch #24

Barrell Bourbon Batch #24 Cask Strength Whiskey is a blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys and aged in American white oak barrels. It has been distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and bottled in Kentucky.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 024 is a marriage of high rye Bourbons ranging in age from 9 to 15. The 9, 10, and 13-year-old barrels were chosen for their peppery assertiveness, making this "spice box" marriage wonderfully robust yet a little rough around the edges. They refined the blend by adding in citrus-forward, lower proof, 15-year-old barrels bit by bit, ensuring that the forward rye base would continue to shine while delivering a lush mouthfeel.

A gentle nose balancing blonde tobacco, pear, and coffee ice cream belies an intense palate of cola and spice. Adding water creates a decadently syrupy texture while highlighting notes of musky passionfruit and forest floor.

The appearance has a molasses fading to ochre, with a bright, brassy rim. The nose opens with vernal florals: apple blossom, blonde tobacco, and spruce tip. These lead naturally into estival fruits: green banana, ripe pear, lychee, and cherry. Prickly autumnal mulling spices and wintergreen lend complexity, as a sweet, wintery foundation is laid by pumpkin pie and coffee ice cream.

The palate offers a chocolate ganache balanced by tart white grapefruit orange bitters, mineral slate and salt, and savory dried porcini mushrooms, with a considerable breadth of flavor. It's notably spicy, showcasing ginger, cardamom, and black pepper. Cola is present with notes of rosemary, leather, and oak. Sandy tannin and heat keep the relatively sweet palate in check.

The finish is creamy and sweet, with maple cheesecake and hefeweizen start off. While gentler than the rollercoaster of a palate, there's still plenty of complexity provided by the cherry cordial, Aperol, and clove. It fades on red pepper flake and table salt. This Barrell Bourbon Batch #24 has bottled at 113.9 proof (56.95% alcohol by volume). Enjoy!