Barrell Dovetail
Photo by: BARRELL CRAFT SPIRITS, LLC

A little background

Barrell Dovetail is a special release from Barrell Bourbon. This whiskey is finished in rum, port, and cabernet sauvignon casks. It took over a year to get the flavor combination right, and the result is surely unique. Dovetail can be found at an MSRP of $80 and is bottled at 124.34 proof.

(Tasted neat from a Halo Glass)

Color

Yellow Gold

Nose

The nose is definitely telling of the fact that it was finished in rum casks. Thankfully, the rum aroma is not overpowering, just enough to be noticed. I get hints of candy watermelon, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits. This reminds me of a fruit tray in the Summer time. I also pick up on a note that reminds me of when I would cover my baseball glove in mink oil during my childhood. It is a very complex, light, citrus-forward nose.

Palate

The palate is medium bodied, with a darker profile than the nose leads on. I experience notes of molasses, cola, and bread on the mid and back palate. A note of oak spice and cracked white pepper coats the entire palate. From the third sip on, the spice subsides and leaves way for sweeter notes.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and retains both the oak spice and molasses on the mid palate for a good while.

In closing

I thought this was a very good whiskey and can tell that a lot of time and effort was put into balancing the flavors so none would overpower the others. It is very well balanced and complex. I would recommend to anyone to give this one a try!

Barrell Dovetail

124.34 Proof
8.5

Complexity

8.6/10

Nose

8.5/10

Palate

8.5/10

Finish

8.4/10

Value

8.4/10

The Good

  • Nose
  • Palate
  • Complexity

The Bad

  • Availability

Jake Youst

Jake is a whiskey enthusiast who enjoys teaching others about bourbon and rye. Some of his favorite things to do are review different whiskies, go on barrel picks, and learn from the masters of the craft while at the distilleries. Outside of the whiskey world, Jake is an EMT and will soon start nursing school to become a Flight Nurse Practitioner. You can find/contact him on Instagram @thetipsybarkeep

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