Barrell Craft Spirits Launches Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Armagnac
Barrell Craft Spirits has launched the latest expression in its Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Armagnac. The limited-edition series utilizes the company’s blending and finishing expertise to make bespoke blends of straight bourbon whiskeys with unique finishes.
For this expression, the BCS team created a blend of Kentucky (10 year), Indiana (7, 8, 11 and 12 year), and Tennessee (9, 13, 14 and 15 year) straight bourbon whiskeys featuring multiple mash bills. The blend was then further matured in Armagnac barrels and bottled at a cask strength of 56.5% ABV (113 proof), with a derived mash bill of 78% corn, 18% rye, and 4% malted barley.
Official tasting notes for Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Armagnac follow:
Nose: A quick burst of pineapple belies an otherwise dark and brooding nose. Potting soil, cola, and grape soda recall the finishing cask’s former contents. But a generous helping of caraway, pumpernickel, ginger beer, and menthol make sure you know you’re drinking bourbon. An array of dried fruits and various nuts coalesce into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Palate: Syrupy sweetness and bold spice are kept in check by some sandy tannin and the heat of its cask-strength. That residual sugar makes every flavor feel like a liqueur — pithy orange, hazelnut, black walnut. Tobacco and chocolate covered espresso beans mirror the darkness of the nose and almost obscure a fresh pop of watermelon.
Finish: Clove and oolong tea aren’t out of place in the finish of a bourbon or an Armagnac. What’s notable though is how the sticky sweetness of dried plum and pecan pie clings to the palate alongside the lingering richness of custard.
Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Armagnac is now available for purchase at barrellbourbon.com and at select retailers for a suggested retail price of $84.99 per 750 mL bottle.
Source: Barrell Craft Spirits.