Barrell Whiskey 25 Year Old

Feb 12

Thanks to Sandee at the Whiskey Ward for the picture!

This was my fourth pour in the 7-way Barrell blind, and I asked for this one from my friend Mike at TheBourbonCulture.com for a reason. When I tried this for the first time - also blind - I thought it was terrible. It was bad enough for me to think that the sample bottle was tainted. Mike being Mike, he has most Barrell products out there and some that they might not even know they put out (I kid…but only kinda).

Tasting it blind again, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I remembered. Still not my cup of tea, if only because the age really is too much for me, but I certainly didn’t think the sample was tainted. Also, coming on the heels of a firebomb in Batch 25 and a too-woody Batch 21, this had a very low bar to clear. This was much more balanced, and I got the feeling there was more thought behind this, for whatever that’s worth. More instinctual than factual, of course, but it is what it is.

Barrell Whiskey 25 Year Old: Specs

Classification: Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskies

Origin: Indiana

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Proof: 111.2 (55.6% ABV)

Age: 25 Years Old, finished in a Sercial Madeira cask

Location: Indiana

Barrell Whiskey 25 Year Old Price: $250

Official Website

Barrell Whiskey 25 Year Old Tasting Notes (blind)

Eye: Light amber. Thin rims and quick legs.

Nose: Definitely bourbon. Not even a question. Tight nose, but enough gets through. Bit of menthol and mint. Burnt cornbread edges emerge, sweet and charred.

Palate: Super nutty - almonds, proof heat, and oak spice all attack the tip of my tongue at once. Oak astringency hits the corners of my mouth. Mouthfeel is thinner than I feel it should be. Spice sticks around my salivary glands like a vice. Oak is present without being super dominant. Peanut skins and toasty flavors lurk in the background.

Finish: Heat tempers to a tingly oak, hint of eucalyptus and peanut shells

Overall: Without question more balanced than the last two Barrell blinds. Hot, but the oak is well balanced and the proof does mellow out a bit. Slightly woodier than I like. Probably not a bottle buy for me, but I wouldn’t poo-poo this either.

Final Rating: 5.4

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)