Whiskey Review: Barrell Whiskey Batch 001

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a free sample to review by the party behind it. The Whiskey Wash, while appreciative of this, did keep full independent editorial control over this article.

More than a year ago, we wrote about Barrell Whiskey Batch 001, which was the Barrell Bourbon company’s first foray into blended whiskey. Batch 001 is a blend of seven and eight year old whiskies distilled in Indiana and aged in Kentucky in ex-bourbon barrels (which, according to Barrell, gives it single malt Scotch-like qualities with American-style flavors).

This spirit is not chill-filtered, as this can impact flavor. Instead, they use a coarse particulate filer to strain the small bits of charred oak released by the barrel during aging. The mash is a mix of corn, rye, and malted barley. It is bottled at 122.5 proof (61.25% alcohol).

Barrell, a youngster of a whiskey company, has been making some impressive headway, taking top awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, not to mention accolades from reviewers all over the web – including us. The Barrell Bourbon batch 006 is still one of my favorites, and we also loved Barrel Bourbon batches 004 and 005.

So how does their whiskey stack up?

Tasting Notes:

Color: Yellowish, with a slight greenish tinge.

Nose: Immediately after pouring: It’s very alcohol-forward, but once you get past that, there’s apples, a very buttery piecrust. After it sits a bit: chocolate cupcakes.

Palate: It tastes like fall and alcohol: Apples, ginger, cinnamon. The finish brings heat without bite, finishing with a pear and a little nutmeg. It is a little jarring and astringent, though; I definitely taste the alcohol. It’s not bad, but more noticeable than I was expecting.

Conclusion:

I really, really, really wanted to love this. And I thought it was good, but it didn’t blow me away like I wanted. I’ve had high-alcohol whiskeys that are smoother. This whiskey improves with sitting and a little ice, but if I had to take this or their Batch 006, there’d be no contest. It retails for about $60, and I think it’s worth it…but it’s just not as much my thing. Your mileage may vary.

FINAL SCORE: 83/100