Bourbon Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 015

is different. But so is each bottling of Barrell bourbons. image via Carin Moonin/The Whiskey Wash Tasting Notes: Barrell Bourbon Batch 015 Vital Stats: 9.5 years old, 107.6 proof cask strength, distilled and aged in Tennessee and Kentucky, mash bill of corn/rye/malted barley, about $90. Appearance: Rich, gleaming mahogany, like the hardwood floors in an upscale cabin. It has a rich glow, too, like a very intense island sunset or a fire in said upscale cabin. There’s almost like a shine to it. Nose: Extremely fruity, but not artificial or gummy-smelling. More like overripe bananas, like the kind that are ready for banana bread. Also, honeydew melon and apples. There’s some cookie-baking in here, too: gingerbread cookies fresh out of the oven. Vanilla extract. Palate: I really dug this. It’s not as high-proof as some of the other Barrell concoctions, and they do a good job managing cask strength-potency regardless, so you generally taste more than just alcohol with their whiskies. It’s cinnamon-forward, and tingles a tiny bit on the lips, but has a rich mouthfeel that doesn’t burn. The fruitiness from the nose continues, and it’s complex and savory. I don’t often make food-pairing suggestions, but I think a belt of this–with maybe one ice cube–would be terrific with something like a chicken curry. Its sweetness would balance out the salty/savory.