Home Bourbon Barrell Vantage Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Barrell Vantage Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey

September 2, 2022 · By Matthew Evans · 8.9 / 10
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Whiskey Consensus Score
8.9 /10
Excellent
Score Breakdown
Nose
9.1
Palate
8.8
Finish
9.1
Complexity
8.8
Value
8.8
Consensus Score
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8.9
/ 10
Our Verdict
Excellent

Barrell Vantage is a blend of straight bourbons finished in Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak casks.

The Good

  • Complex Nose
  • Unique Flavor Profile

The Bad

  • Availability
Barrell Vantage Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In Mizunara, French, and Toasted American Oak

A little background

Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS), is an award winning independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength whiskey and rum. Barrell Vantage is a blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak: Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak casks. According to BCS, Each component whiskey in Barrell Vantage is finished separately, then systematically combined according to a blending process fueled in equal parts by a scientific approach, experience, creativity, and experimentation.

Barrell Vantage was distilled in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, and then crafted and bottled in Kentucky at cask strength, 114.44 proof. It’s an ongoing release from BCS and has a retail price of $89.99 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Light Gold

Nose

Confectionary sugar, sunshine brewed tea, Buttery French toast, and butterscotch.

Palate

Candied Oranges, sweet tea, oak on the mid palate, followed by chocolate fudge. Sweet and oily!

Finish

Medium/long finish. Orange marmalade, stone fruit, Sweet vanilla taffy, and a hint of spice. A slight woody bitterness lingers.

In closing

Overall, Barrell Vantage is an exceptional finished bourbon that is proof that Barrell Craft Spirits has truly mastered their craft in the finished whiskey game. This blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak (Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak) has created a final product that’s expertly balanced. From the sweet and creamy buttered french toast on the nose to the sweet vanilla taffy and spice on the finish, Barrell Vantage is a treat for the senses.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Barrell Craft Spirits. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.

Barrell Vantage Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In Mizunara, French, and Toasted American Oak

114.44 Proof
8.9

Nose

9.1/10

Palate

8.8/10

Finish

9.1/10

Complexity

8.8/10

Value

8.8/10

The Good

  • Complex Nose
  • Unique Flavor Profile

The Bad

  • Availability
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Barrell Craft Spirits Bourbon Review

Every bottle on Whiskey Consensus is evaluated across five categories on a 1–100 scale. The five scores are averaged to produce a final overall score out of 10.

Nose
Aroma, complexity & first impressions
Palate
Flavor, balance & mouthfeel
Finish
Length, character & quality
Complexity
Depth, layers & evolution in the glass
Value
Quality relative to retail price
Score Rating What It Means
9.5 – 10.0ExceptionalOne for the history books
9.0 – 9.4OutstandingA benchmark expression
8.5 – 8.9GreatSeek this bottle out
8.0 – 8.4Very GoodAbove average in every way
7.5 – 7.9GoodWorth your money
7.0 – 7.4Above AverageA solid everyday pour
6.5 – 6.9AverageUnremarkable but drinkable
6.0 – 6.4Below AverageHard to recommend
5.5 – 5.9Hard PassBetter options at this price
0.0 – 5.4AvoidNot worth your time or money
Matthew Evans
About the Author
Matthew Evans
Whiskey Reviewer · Whiskey Consensus  · 541 posts

Matthew is the founder and visionary behind Whiskey Consensus. What began as a project to explore the Instagram platform and share a love for whiskey has evolved into so much more. Professionally, Matthew works in digital marketing as a solutions engineer and sales leader, bringing innovative strategies to the table. Outside of work, Matthew is an avid runner, as well as a car and watch enthusiast. He is also deeply committed to giving back to the community through various volunteer responsibilities.

More by Matthew Evans →
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