Food & Drink

Review: Blind Barrels Tasting Kit

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Blind tasting whiskey is plenty of enjoyable… but it surely’s awfully arduous to do alone. I imply, to procure the bottles, so what they’re.

Blind Barrels solves that drawback with what it calls the primary blind whiskey tasting subscription kit. I’d counsel that Flaviar was there first, however there’s room for each of those guys out there, I believe.

The thought is easy: Every quarter Blind Barrels sends you 4 unlabeled 50ml pattern bottles of what’s promised to be a “distinctive and arduous to seek out” whiskey — largely craft merchandise from off the overwhelmed path. After you style them, you possibly can scan an included QR code to disclose their identities. Discovered Bob DeMars says it took tasting 150 samples to reach on the 16 whiskeys in Blind Barrels’ first 4 line-ups. The value is $60 quarterly or $200 per 12 months. Transport and tax not included.

We acquired Blind Barrels’ March 2022 mailing to see a current instance of what the outfit is placing out. Because it’s been just a few months, I hope we will safely spoil the contents of the package. My fast guesses about what was in every bottle together with some tough tasting notes observe — and, in parentheses, the identification of every pattern.

A – younger rye; woody, some butterscotch, inexperienced; not wholly participating (Black Button Four Grain Bourbon)
B – younger bourbon; woody, some pepper, nutty; extra attention-grabbing however immature (Kings County Bourbon)
C – daring, bourbon, possibly Texas; very woody, mesquite-like, punchy (OYO Wheat Whiskey Oloroso Completed — at 5 years previous, that is the one whiskey over 2 years previous within the combine)
D – rye or high-rye bourbon, wine completed maybe; floral and fruity, with a giant natural kick on the tip, my favourite of the bunch (291 Colorado Rye)

So, by and huge you’re getting some previous guard craft whiskey within the combine, together with some fairly well-worn stuff like Kings County Bourbon. The inclusion of a sherry-finished wheat whiskey was positively attention-grabbing — and it actually threw me for a loop in making an attempt to establish it. All in all, one of many samples was actually worthwhile, two had been simply fantastic, and one I didn’t care to drink various sips of.

At $12 to $15 per pattern, the worth of the package right here is reasonable compared to different tasting kits, however followers of craft whiskeys that they’ll’t readily receive elsewhere could discover this an excellent higher purchase. Bonus factors for the blind tasting setup, which labored completely properly and positively provides some enjoyable to the expertise.

B / $200 per 12 months / blindbarrels.com

Blind Barrels Tasting Package

$200

Score


8.0/10

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