Food & Drink

Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 31 and Batch 32

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Barrell Bourbon ended 2021 with Batch 31 of its flagship bourbon and kicked the brand new yr off with Batch 32. Every launch is a mix of sourced shares from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, which has develop into a constant theme lately (except for Batch 30). Dig a bit of deeper, nonetheless, and also you’ll discover that these are each fairly completely different animals. I’ll let Barrell clarify the finer factors.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 031 is a mix of 6, 7, 10, 15 and 16-year-old barrels. The mix was constructed across the sweetness in a gaggle of 99% corn bourbon barrels and a gaggle of wheated bourbon barrels. To bridge these two groupings, we layered in 15 and 16-year-old barrels for his or her mild nuttiness and oak. Lastly, a collection of 10-year-old barrels was added to deliver notes of milk chocolate and tropical fruit. 

Batch 032 started with a steadiness of two units of barrels: a collection of 5 and 6-year-old barrels with a creamy and tropical profile and a collection of 6, 7 and 10-year-old barrels vatted for his or her complicated, previous, woody character. These two units of barrels have been slowly blended over three months. A small group of spice pushed 7-year-old barrels with notes of cinnamon toast, espresso bean and chocolate have been then rigorously added to finish the mix. The result’s a decadent and wealthy bourbon with layers of spice and nuttiness.

The mixing wizards at Barrell have clearly been onerous at work. Let’s see what’s what with these two.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 31 – The nostril is sweeter than most Barrell releases with a lot of gentle brown sugar and Demerara syrup. A layer of oak, freshly planed and well-seasoned, helps to restrain among the sweetness whereas notes of pineapple pound cake and peach candies develop as issues open up. That sweetness can also be entrance and middle on the palate with saccharine notes of caramel candies, sugary pralines, and a few candied ginger. The oak doesn’t do a lot for it right here because the barrel notes are largely submerged by a silky of wave of torched sugar and orange rock sweet earlier than the spicy, barely drying end. Ideally suited for many who get pleasure from a sweeter bourbon however missing among the complexity I’ve come to anticipate from Barrell. 111.2 proof. A- / $89 

Barrell Bourbon Batch 32 – That is one other considerably distinctive aroma for a Barrell batch, with grassy florals, delicate, candy oak, and a wealthy layer of brown butter. Most Barrell noses have a tendency towards bolder, spicier bouquets, however there’s fairly a little bit of restraint right here. On the palate, issues are superbly balanced with a wealthy, silky physique and a straightforward, hugging heat. Notes of buttery cinnamon toast and baked apples give method to darkish berries and lemon zest. The end is beneficiant and mildly spiced with a little bit of cocktail cherry and raspberry cordial. Full-flavored and impressively straightforward consuming at cask energy. One in all my new favorites from Barrell. 115.3 proof. A / $89

barrellbourbon.com

Barrell Bourbon Batch 31

$89

Ranking


8.5/10

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