Barrell Craft Spirits Launches Barrell Bourbon Toasted Single Barrel 21 Year Old
Barrell Craft Spirits has launched Barrell Bourbon Toasted Single Barrel 21 Year Old, the second of nine toasted single barrels set to be released annually.
In 2018, Barrell Craft Spirits introduced the first release of 15 Year Old Gray Label Bourbon. During the production of that bourbon, a portion of the blend was transferred into nine custom raised American oak barrels that were toasted to BCS’ exact specification. After resting for six years, the first of these toasted barrels has been bottled, with the remaining eight barrels to be released annually.
Official tasting notes for Barrell Bourbon Toasted Single Barrel 21 Year Old follow:
Nose: Immediately transportive to a boreal forest; notes of pine needle, damp soil, and mint tea issue first from the glass. Oatmeal raisin cookies and slightly burnt brownies make for an earthier take on bourbon’s typical dessert aromas. This whiskey’s advanced maturity has pushed the fruit notes of apricot, purple plum, and gooseberry to their richest, jammiest extremes. There’s just a touch of umami here, with marmite, tomato, and black pepper peaking out around the edges.
Palate: Burnt caramel leads into cola and then aromatic bitters as the oak extraction intensifies. There are so many spice notes swirling about but ginger and black licorice loom notably large. Dried elderberries, dates, and roasted banana continue the very ripe, cooked fruit theme from the nose but they read juicier than expected, buoyed by some zippy acidity. Everything is well-framed by minerality, with notes of slate and chalk dust underpinning the palate.
Finish: Cooling mint gives a very fresh feeling to the finish. Slowly, though, the savory elements from the nose creep in, tasting of soy sauce, beef jerky, and dried mushroom powder. There’s even a lingering note of chewing tobacco.
Barrell Bourbon Toasted Single Barrel 21 Year Old is limited to 108 bottles and is available for purchase at barrellbourbon.com for $199.99 per 750 mL bottle.
Source: Barrell Craft Spirits.