Bourbon Review: Barrell Bourbon 007

Nice mouthfeel. Weighty but not thick or heavy. Sharp on the lips, but smooth on the palate. There is some fire for sure, but it dissipates quickly. Orange, citrus, and that woodsy/piney after-effect more on the palate than the nose. My co-taster found the nose more welcoming than the palate, but I disagreed. This whiskey comes in slightly blustery—likely owing to its high alcohol content—but that initial sharpness and spice quickly mellows on the finish. It still does have a little burn, more so than the 006—but I wouldn’t kick it out of bed. It’s 007, after all. Final Thoughts: I found Barrell Bourbon 007 tasty, and I’d return to it for a high-proof tipple, without a doubt. I think its sharpness would mellow with an ice cube or with a couple drops of water, if you want to smooth it out. But it’s not stealthy, and I’d kind of wanted that quality. The 007 will run you about $90, so it’s on the pricier side, but I think it’s also worth it to get something limited and unusual. Score: 86/100.