Barrell Bourbon Batch 8 Review

Producer: Barrell Bourbon. Distiller: undisclosed TN distillery. ABV: 66.4%. Age: 9.5 years. Mashbill: 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley. Price: $80.

Axis readers know well that we’re big fans of Barrell Bourbon. The whole project I liked from the beginning: a single man with a singular palate–who also happens to be a heck of a nice guy–selecting and bottling 100% cask strength, unfiltered, true single barrel bourbons ad whiskies from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Joe Beatrice has released eight bourbons and two whiskies so far, and I’ve had the pleasure of trying nearly every one. I opened the latest, Barrell Bourbon batch 8, with a big smile. It’s the oldest so far, at 9.5 years, and the strongest, at a whopping 66.4% ABV, distiled and aged in Tennessee.

The nose is a big one–no surprise there. On the bright, brash, fir forest side. The mashbill’s 25% rye, and it shows. Roasted peanuts and caramel corn, slightly burnt. The palate adds buttered pumpernickel bread and loads of cinnamon spice. A touch of minerality emerges on the long, dark, oaky-sweet finish.

How do you keep impressing when you’ve released so many memorable bottlings so far? Ask Joe Beatrice. I’ll tell you one thing: it must be a good problem to have.

Cheers, friends! – BO

Barrell Bourbon kindly provided a sample for review. As always, our opinions are 100% our own.

Buy Barrell Bourbon online at Mash + Grape