Barrell Craft Spirits Introduces BCS Gray Label Seagrass In Cask Strength

by Gary Carter
January 15, 2022

Barrell Craft Spirits brought to market last year its Barrell Seagrass, a blend of American and Canadian rye whiskeys finished in three different casks, which later earned Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Now, the independent blender and bottler has introduced its BCS Gray Label Seagrass, which features 100 percent Canadian rye whisky aged for 16 years, finished in Martinique Rhum, Madeira, and apricot brandy barrels. It comes bottled at 130.82 proof (65.41% ABV).

“We knew we had something special with the launch of Barrell Seagrass last year and decided to take that same method of global sourcing and blending, both in whiskey and finishing materials, and apply it to a very special set of barrels,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice in a prepared statement. “BCS Gray Label Seagrass is an expression rooted in the profile of Barrell Seagrass, but at a level only achievable with older and higher proof whiskies.”

BCS Gray Label Seagrass distiller’s notes show that this expression began with two groups of 16-year-old, 100-percent Canadian Rye barrels … one with citrus and green apple notes and the other with earthy spearmint notes.

A portion of the first group was finished in apricot brandy casks, a portion of the second group was finished in Martinique rhum barrels, and a blend of the first and second groups was finished in Malmsey Madeira barrels.

They ended up with a mature rye whiskey that the distiller’s notes describe as having a grassy aroma reinforced by fresh notes of aged Rhum Agricole. On the palate, the oily rye is complemented by the nutty madeira character that also balances that richness with acidity. Apricot brandy casks splash bright, sometimes tropical fruit over the finish before it reveals the maritime minerality that lends this whiskey its name.

BCS was founded in 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, and they are known for selecting and blending products that explore different distillation methods, barrels and aging environments, and they bottle them at cask strength.

BCS’s backstock of a variety of casks lend to the wide variety of blends that allow them to maximize the nuances of each ingredient. Their whiskey has become known for creative finishes and a commitment to releasing each whiskey at cask strength without chill filtration.