The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Randall H. Borkus
Rating: B-
Barrell Bourbon Batch 29
(Credit: Barrell Craft Spirits)
Barrell Craft Spirits, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is an independent blender and bottler of distinctive, aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum. They have become well-known for their blending proficiency.
Batch 029 is 6 years old and distilled and aged in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana, Selection of 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, and 16 year old barrels, bottled in Kentucky and aged in American white oak barrels at 115.88 proof cask strength.
The base of Barrell Bourbon Batch 029 is an herbal and viscous blend of Indiana bourbons. The recipe is further expanded with 6 and 7 year old rye mash Kentucky bourbon, chosen for its exotic cinnamon spice note; and floral 9 and 10 year old wheated bourbon. Finally, a small amount of 6, 14, and 16 year old Tennessee bourbon was added for a fruity nose and a long finish.
The Bourbon
The color boasts a dark reddish-brown hue splashed with bright amber. The nose is herbal with hints of sweet minty tropical fruits. The front palate is a soft cask strength and takes a moment for the brain to acclimate to the lack of boldness. The juice is thin on the palate leading to splash of sweet pea, juicy apple, molasses, fresh dried nuts and chamomile. As my palate further adjusts, more mineral flavors emerge and indications of wood chips. The finish is not the bold traditional Barrell Bourbon I have come to expect. It takes a little to get to hints of dry mocha, cinnamon and then more earthy mineral and fruity flavors. I needed a splash of water to really flush out to the flavors and then I’m able to find more distinct hints of fresh peaches and tropical fruit like Guava, avocados and papayas mid-palate and on the finish.
Overall, this is a nice whiskey with a slightly complex flavor profile that some whiskey drinkers will love, and others will just be mildly excited by the lack of flavor density. I always look forward to the next creative blend from the Barrell Bourbon expressions and it is fun to explore the Barrell Bourbon expressions each year. Barrell Bourbon Batch 029 is not an expression that I will run out to stock up on as I have with previous years expressions.
The Price
The suggested retail price for Barrell Bourbon Batch 029 is $90 per 750ml bottle.
