Barrell Whiskey Batch 005
The last Barrell Whiskey release from my friends over at the The Bourbon Culture is the last one that was named as a Barrell “Whiskey” Batch - the next few, Dovetail, Armida, and Seagrass, were named after their inspirations.
I think Joe and Tripp knew this batch was the last of the first line, because it seems like they threw the book at this one and just ran with it. FOUR FINISHES. Four finishes, plus an unfinished bourbon. WHY.
I’m not saying it doesn’t work a little, I’m not saying a four-finish blend can’t work, but seriously, why?
I complained in the notes for Batch 004 that I couldn’t figure out the thought process, like it was haphazard and slapdash. Even though this blend wasn’t my favorite of the line either, I do see a little more thought put into it. The description on Barrell’s website specifically references how they purposefully aged/finished these whiskies separately to blend them later into something that would be better than the individual parts. That does mean something, and the purposeful choices - even the experimental ones - come across loud and clear in Dovetail, Armida, and Seagrass.
Barrell Whiskey Batch 005: Specs
Classification: American Whiskey
Origin: Indiana (MGP), Tennessee (Cascade Hollow), and Kentucky (Unknown)
Mashbill: Undisclosed Corn, Rye, and Malt Mashbill
Proof: 118.4 (59.2% ABV)
Age: 9 Years
Location: Aged in American white oak barrels; finished in Bourbon, American brandy, and Amaro barrels, and Cognac casks
Barrell Whiskey Batch 005 Price: N/A - No Longer Available
Barrell Whiskey Batch 005 Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: 14K gold. Barest rims with droplet legs.
Nose: Apple flavored nail polish…very odd. Corn husks, fruit wood but little fruitiness after the initial apple note. Raw grits, corn-forward.
Palate: A little more proof here…dancing on the tip of my tongue and warming the rest. Gets quite peppery, milk chocolate, too. Mouthfeel is creamy, coating, medium-bodied. Not much corn influence on the palate, though. Tip of my tongue keeps getting waves of peppercorn heat.
Finish: Finish is medium-length, milk chocolate and a dried berry undertone that’s just barely there. Stays creamy, though.
Overall: Overall I think this is the pour where I caught on, but who knows. I liked this, but not as much as sample two. There isn’t as much complexity nor is there the same consistency from one part to another. With more corn sweetness/bourbon flavor on the palate, this would’ve been a bit higher.
Final Rating: 6.3
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)
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