Thanks for the whiskey love
It's not always flowers and chocolate for Valentine's Day. Fred Minnick includes Barrell Bourbon Batch 017 in the Forbes Valentine Gift Guide "Barrell, which made my pick for American whiskey of the year in 2018, seems to have the marzipan note quite often. Here, it's on the nose, palate and finish. But it's so much more than marzipan. Notes of honey, apple, caramel and jalapeño hit here and there, but it's the raw cookie dough note that I love the most--after the marzipan, of course. Very nice finish." Drinkhacker rates Barrell Craft Spirits 15 yr Bourbon an A "Off the bat, the complexity here is striking. ..sweetness never quite takes control, tempered by a secondary wave of baking chocolate, peppery earthiness, and barrel char that takes things in a drier and more herbaceous direction. The conclusion is a third wave with more classic elements; butterscotch pudding, toasted marshmallow, and orange marmalade lead the way into a long and warming finish of cigar box and milk chocolate. Despite those cascading waves of diverse flavor, the whole thing somehow stays in perfect balance." Bourbonsmith reviews Barrell Dovetail "If you're looking for a special finish or just something other than a standard barrel proof bourbon, you'll be hard pressed to find a better option than this one. This is one of the best special finish bottles I've had." Adventures in Whiskey takes a look at Barrell Bourbon Batch 017 "I tend to really enjoy Barrell Bourbon releases, but this one stands above the crowd. Liquid gold, even." Whiskey Reviewer notes "Barrell Bourbon Batch 017 is billed as a classic 10 year old bourbon, and it is a pretty solid example of the way the company does things to boot."
Fermentation is ... We love to see our name in print - especially when we're included in articles about the whiskey industry. Barrell Master Distiller Tripp Stimson was recently interviewed about fermentation for the upcoming issue of Bourbon + Magazine and here's what he had to say: "There are many processes that need to happen to ensure the best product goes into the bottle including fermentation, distillation, maturation and others. There’s a science behind the production and processing of any product that is created and understanding what that science is and how it works is key. When we select barrels, we consider the flavor congeners and aromatic compounds that have been created through the use of different yeast strains, fermentation profiles, and grain bills. We then blend those barrels, allowing the flavors and aromatics to complement each other, thus producing a complex flavor profile. The Barrell Craft Spirits brand is driven by what’s in the bottle, and we’ve built our reputation and organic following by focusing on creating a superior product." Check out the full article when the magazine comes out this spring.
Dovetail
How did we come up with the name Dovetail anyway? A Dovetail joint is used in woodworking to fit two pieces of wood together. It's one of most beautiful, yet hardest, joints to craft, and is considered to be a sign of exceptional craftsmanship and quality. The word Dovetail evokes images of simplicity, beauty and a perfect fit. We consider that a perfect description of our Dovetail whiskey, which took almost a year to get right from blending to labeling, before coming together in a seemingly perfect point. Why is it so delicious? Our Dovetail is a melding of 3 whiskeys, each finished separately to then work together seamlessly. The timeless french oak barrels, previously used for Dunn Cabernet, bring a sophisticated spice to thick, syrupy Port finished bourbon. Similarly, the Black Strap molasses rum finish highlights the deep toast of the Dunn Cabernet. All three components enhance one another in a beautiful, integrated flavor that relies on the properties of the components.
What's On Now
Barrell Bourbon Batch 017 is now available on shelves across the country. It's an homage to elegant bourbons of the past, which has become increasingly hard to find. It’s the classic 10-year-old: high proof and balanced, oak driven but complex. It's never too late to celebrate new beginnings with our 2019 New Year Bourbon release. It's comprised of reserves from some of our batches and other choice barrels coming from 6 distilleries in 6 states. Throughout the year we set aside particularly inspiring barrels that we believe will make an interesting contribution to the New Year release. We do dozens of test blends to find the combination we believe to be the best and most interesting from our barrel inventory to make our New Year blend a truly unique expression. We released a small number of single barrels of Canadian Rye through our Single Barrel program. These 13-year-old barrels were distilled and aged in Canada, and then further aged in Kentucky. They were selected for their deep and vibrant flavor. These barrels are exceedingly rare - if you're interested in securing a bottle for yourself or selecting a private barrel for your store please get in touch ASAP.
Raise a Glass We’ll be pouring Barrell Bourbon and other great releases, at multiple locations in the next few months - including Whiskey and Barrel Nite in NYC and Julio's Go whiskey Weekend in February, Harrison Wine Vault Whiskey Fest, the Houston Whiskey Social, the New Orleans Bourbon Festival and Binny's World of Whiskeys in March, Mohegan Sun Whiskey Union and American Whiskey Fest in April. Check our website and Facebook page for a current list of events.
Don’t miss a drop We appreciate every retailer, bar and restaurant that carries our products. Please check the Store Locator on our website to find a retailer near you, or one that will ship directly to you. Be sure to tag us if you're holding a tasting or posting a photo because we're happy to promote it on social media. And if you'd like to help us grow organically, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to help get the word out about Barrell Craft Spirits.