A little background

A blend of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana bourbons that are between 9 and 15 years of age, Barrell Bourbon Batch 024 clocks in at 113.9 proof and retails for around $80. The Barrell Craft Spirits website describes this pour as “a spice box” due to the age and the high-rye nature of the barrels that were blended to create this product. Barrell Bourbon Batch 024 is bottled at 113.9 and has a retail price of around $80.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Mahogany

Nose

Some floral notes along with ethanol rise from the glass first. After a moment, Honeycrisp apples and cherry become more dominant, with a touch of lemon peel and cinnamon deep in the glass.

Palate

An oily mouthfeel touches down on the tongue with a little oak and a lot of pear. Some cinnamon stands out as the mouthfeel becomes drier with notes of oak after a little bit of chewing.

Finish

The sweeter palate transitions to a dry, oaky finish that is medium in length and carries notes of peppercorn and allspice. A tingle of ethanol lasts on the palate and in the throat, but the heat is mild and doesn’t last terribly long.

In closing

At the end of the day, Barrell Bourbon Batch 024 is a really good whiskey. It’s a little outside of the mainstream bourbon profile by a little bit, but I really enjoyed this pour. The nice orchard notes on the nose and palate mingle pleasantly with some more classic bourbon notes to make for a tasty and memorable pour. Priced around $80, this bourbon may not be a killer deal, but it is well worth the money. In a market that includes wildly underpriced value pours and wildly overpriced craft pours, this bottle from Barrell sits right in the middle and is worth the money.