4 Barrell Bourbons Headsup Ranking Review

Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com



How I ranked these head to head 1-4:
(Transitioning between each pour individually, and completely through all stages before moving to the next. The use of tonic water to clear my palate respectively - something I highly recommend for any tasting or comparison of bourbons)

 #1 - Dovetail  124.16 Proof
Fair Bottle Value: $65 (Current Retail Avg $80)
Color: med dark honey
Nose: sea salt, oak, caramel
Palate: caramel, honey, vanilla
Finish: med : oak, vanilla, cinnamon, salted caramel
Rating: 4.5/5

Recommend: Yes : This is a purchase I don't think you will regret adding into your collection, even at the higher $80 current retail. I would like to see a slightly longer finish, however the entire experience of a caramel sea salt nose that transitions well throughout the palate and finish is definitely unique. If you are a fan of Wild Turkey Rare Breed, you will really appreciate this offering!

----------------------
#2 - Seagrass 119.3 Proof

Fair Bottle Value: $65 (Current Retail Avg $80)
Color: golden honey
Nose: oak, rye, sugar cookie, bubblegum, toasted almond
Palate: peaches, sweet mint, strawberries
Finish: med : mint, sweet honey, bubble gum, strawberries

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes : I really enjoyed the complexity of the higher rye content. The peach and fruit flavors are very full and enjoyable.

----------------------
#3 - Infinite 125.42 Proof

Fair Bottle Value: $25 (Current Retail Avg $65)
Color: light honey
Nose: slated caramel, cloves
Palate: cinnamon, vanilla, mint
Finish: short : cinnamon, vanilla, dry oak

Rating: 3/5

Recommend: No : In my opinion, this offering lacks the complexity and finish of the Dovetail & Seagrass. Mouthfeel is dry and seems very youthful for a $65 bottle

----------------------
#4 - Armida 112.46 Proof

Fair Bottle Value: No Comment : (Current Retail Avg $80)
Notes: I got what seemed a tidal wave assortment of very different confused flavors. 

Color: dark amber
Nose: vanilla pudding, brown sugar, cherry (the nose and color was great, it did not transition well beyond that)
Palate: dry oak, cherry
Finish:  long : oak, dark cherry, vanilla
Rating: 2/5

Recommend: No : When I see premium pricing on bourbon and whiskey, naturally higher expectations follow. I will say that the nose of this bourbon is EXTREMELY enjoyable, perhaps better than the other 3 offerings from Barrell. Unfortuately, the nose does not carry over into the palate at all for me. This may be a situation where it would be better to try as a stand alone pour. I would definitely recommend trying this at a local bar before paying the premium price.



Opinions expressed are the personal experience and works of the author "Ike Gilbert" and are based upon the sampling of one unique bottle among many. Skol.

Follow me on my social media channels:

© 2021 Ike Gilbert

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Knob Creek SiB Select Store Pick REVIEW (120 Proof)

Image
   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Knob Creek SB Select ( 120 Proof  ) Notes: Freddie Noe [Sherlock's Pick  #2 Select 6/19/2020]  For my taste, I find most of the Knob Creek SB Select bourbons to be a bit more floral & clove forward on the nose and palate. These are all solid and good bourbons from the batches I have enjoyed.  This batch in particular seems to branch off from the normal Knob Creek profile and becomes a very enjoyable bourbon with peanut butter and molasses flavors that are buttery rich.  It rounds out nicely with other flavors on the palate. My bottle was opened for a few months prior to this review. Fair Bottle Value: $60 Color: dark rich amber Nose: wonderfully complex : vanilla, peanut, caramel, toffee, marshmallow, leather, tobacco and char Palate: salted peanut, molasses, butter, clove, cinnamon, brown sugar, baking spice Finish: Long : buttery warm cinnamon spice, brown sugar, oak, honey & clove Rating:  4.5/5 Recom
Read more

Southern Bourbon Whiskey Review 95 Proof

Image
   Handcrafted Bourbon Whiskey Custom Bottle Gifts WhiskeyGifter.com Product: Southern Bourbon Whiskey | MGP Sourced Proof:    95  Notes: Small town distillery in Americus, Georgia brings a surprisingly complex 4+yr sipper. At 95 proof there is little burn hug and lots of character. The high corn mashbill brings sweet oak, brown sugar and vanilla quickly to the forefront...  Fair Bottle Value:  $45 (retail local $35) Color: Honey Caramel Nose: Surprisingly complex for a 4 yr. old product : Butterscotch, toffee, oak, toasted butter bread, popcorn, brown sugar Palate:  oak, brown sugar, vanilla pudding, cinnamon Finish: med : oak, butterscotch, vanilla Rating:  4/5 Recommend:  Yes : The fact that this bottle can be obtained locally for around $35 makes it an easy score for anyone dabbling into the craft distillery marketplace. Drinkers who enjoy the characteristics of Weller Special Reserve, Old Forester 86 and Evan Williams SiB selections will likely benefit from adding this to the coll
Read more

Bull Run Barrel Strength 12Yr Batch #18 REVIEW

Image
  Bull Run Barrel Strength 12Yr Batch #18 (115 Proof ) https://bullrundistillery.com/spirits/barrel-strength-bourbon Notes:  Bull Run Distilling Co.  Fair Bottle Value:  $65 Color:  dark honey Nose:  complex : smokey   oak, molasses, leather, honey, praline, caramel, vanilla, tobacco, ripe white grapes Palate:  cinnamon, caramel, oak char Finish:  med-long : a nice satiny finish with hints of caramel, honey, cherry and pepper Rating:  4/5 Recommend:  Yes : The nose is very complex on this bottle with lingering aromas that project out of the glass and into the room. Palate and finish are nice, but not overly complex. There is a nice aged aroma and flavor that you would expect from a 12 Yr product. It smells like a barrelhouse with old aged distillates. Opinions expressed are the personal experience and works of the author "Ike Gilbert" and are based upon the sampling of one unique bottle among many. Skol. Follow me on my social media channels: Instagram Twitter Facebook Flipbo
Read more