Barrell Craft Spirits 'Gray Label' Whiskey Now Available We're thrilled to announce that the new release of our Barrell Craft Spirits 'Gray Label' Whiskey is on its way to stores and bars this month. As with the first release of Barrell Craft Spirits Whiskey (now known as 'BCS Gray Label'), the barrels harvested for this release were selected for their refined properties and extraordinary flavor profile. Pre-order here. ● Matured for 24 years ● Distilled in Canada
● Aged in the U.S. and Canada
● Crafted and bottled in Kentucky ● 121.64 proof cask strength bottling BCS Gray Label Whiskey began with two selections of 24-year-old Canadian whiskey barrels: one set was fruit-forward and tropical, and one was woody, with a light floral aroma. A portion of the fruit-forward blend was transferred into Oloroso Sherry barrels and a portion of the floral and earthy blend was transferred into Armagnac casks. The remaining whiskey from the two groups was then combined to mingle. When the timing and flavor from the finishing casks peaked, the three components were carefully blended together. The mature, spicy whiskey is front and center, reminiscent of wheat fields edged with wildflowers. There is a rare and noteworthy concentration of aroma, enriched with a candy sweetness and leafy earthiness from the finishing casks, that calls to mind a toasty Belgian waffle. Appearance: Pale straw with steaks of dark amber. Nose: Meticulously layered, with aromas from every stage of production, from field to distillation, to aging, to finishing. The whiskey’s floral character manifests elderflower, with maple and lavender tucked in as well. Notes of rosehip jelly and candied plum, indicative of Armagnac barrels, blend seamlessly with those of fresh, tropical fruit. The grassiness of the whiskey transitions to the nutty character of the oloroso cask. Notes of ginger, wintergreen, and pine pitch are present though the whiskey is not especially woody. Palate: More oaky than the nose, as suggested by butterscotch, coconut milk, and root beer, nearly obscuring the Canadian whiskey’s trademark green apple brightness. There is a concentration of honeydew melon, gooseberry, and old English cider apples. Meanwhile, the earthiness expands to include olive oil, sunflower seed, and licorice root. Finish: The spirit’s herbaceous side takes center stage, starting with tarragon, shiso, and spearmint. Spicier notes follow, among them caraway, cardamom, and fennel-seeds. A marine-like minerality lingers, mostly salt with hints of weathered herbs.
Barrell Bourbon Batch 031
Coming soon is Barrell Bourbon Batch 031, a blend of 6, 7, 10, 15 and 16-year-old barrels. The blend was built around the sweetness in a group of 99% corn Bourbon barrels and a group of wheated bourbon barrels. To bridge these two groupings, we layered in 15 and 16-year-old barrels for their gentle nuttiness and oak. Finally, a selection of 10-year-old barrels was added to bring notes of milk chocolate and tropical fruit.
A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
Distilled and aged in TN, KY, and IN
Selection of 6, 7, 10, 15 and 16-year-old barrels
111.2 proof cask strength bottling
A perfect autumn release, this batch’s notes of shortbread cookie, pumpkin pie, peppermint latte, and pine needles match the mood of sweater weather. Appearance: Deep gold Nose: A rush of dry, notable oak, incorporating wormwood, tobacco, and pine needles. Curious and sweet with browned butter, candied walnut, and spiced apple pie. Other notes balance between woodsy and floral, such as thistle, milkweed, and poppyseed. As we emerge beyond the scope of oak, we find some fruity and sweet cream notes, the latter represented by peppermint latte and vanilla creme anglaise. Palate: Moderate sweetness and juicy citrus make for quite an easy pour. The fruit sings loudest here - pomegranate juice and strawberry rhubarb pie. Extractive elements of spice and tannin bring quince and ginger beer into the equation. The baking spice nods toward a Manhattan garnished with an orange twist. Finally, some marshmallow root and pumpernickel take it in an earthier, cardoon-like direction. Finish: A quick burst of heat announces smoked paprika, black peppercorn, and spearmint. As it subsides, demerara rum and black cherry soda emerge. Finally, it fades to leave only a little chalk and slate.
Big News We're honored that Barrell Bourbon Batch 029 received the highest rating for bourbon in the Whisky Advocate magazine Fall 2021 issue. Executive Editor David Fleming described this whiskey as being “loaded with well-integrated flavors.” In addition, Barrell Bourbon Batch 028 was awarded 92 points and the palate was described as being “velvety” and tasting of a “bounty of delicious orchard fruits.” Whisky Advocate magazine is America’s leading spirits publication. Since its inception over 25 years ago, it has been the premier source for information, education, and entertainment for whisky enthusiasts. In February 2021, Associate Editor Ted Simmons interviewed BCS Founder Joe Beatrice for Whisky Advocate's #TASTEWITHSPACE series on IGTV. You can watch the interview here and read Susannah Skiver Barton's write up of the interview, Blending Up Success, here. In other big news, Stellum Spirits has launched in Australia. We're excited to make this brand available to our friends in the Land Down Under, along with Barrell Craft Spirits, which launched there in 2020. We're thrilled to have retailers across the country participating in our collaboration with the Ocean Foundation by including Seagrass bottles with special hangtags on their shelves. Five dollars from the sale of each bottle will be donated to the Ocean Foundation to support their work on the conservation and restoration of seagrass meadows.
Recent Accolades Drinkhacker reviewed Barrell Bourbon Batch 029, rating it a 8.5/10 and calling it "surprisingly delicate but still engaging." Uproxx included BCS Gray Label in their article Expand Your Whiskey Palate With These Sourced Bourbons, saying, “this is another bottle that easily outshines bottles twice the price.” VinePair featured Barrell Seagrass as part of their Buy This Booze series and said, "the balance achieved and the unique flavor profile is nothing short of remarkable." Inside Hook’s Whiskey Release Schedule included Barrell Bourbon New Year 2022, which will be released at the end of November. Uproxx named Barrell Armida and Stellum Bourbon as some of The Best New Bourbon Whiskeys Under $100. Breaking Bourbon reviewed Barrell Bourbon Batch 030, saying, “there are a surprising amount of new flavors that haven’t been present in previous Barrell blends.”
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If you're a bar or retailer that wants to do a Tasting with us, send an email to contact@barrellbourbon.com. We're happy to participate in and promote these. #BlendedToNeverBlendIn