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I don't know if I've ever had a straight Bourbon with an initial nose of pear, but here it is. Barrell typically has the "Midas Touch", but this Barrell Bourbon Private Release is slightly below the high standard that Barrell has set with almost all of its finished and blended whiskeys. This is not a daily drinker. It is a mood drinker that you pick up when you want refined conventional bourbon without the embellishments and with some punch.
Heat and spice hide a creamy sweetness.
Rating: 80
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| Palate |
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| Finish |
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| Uniqueness |
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| Value |
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Ratings breakdown based on a 100 point scale.
- 90-100 Exceptional
- 80-89 Very Good
- 70-79 Average
- 60-69 Below Average
- 50-60 Drain Pour
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Detailed Tasting Notes
Nose Review - Rating: 84
As soon as I opened this bottle of this traditionally blended bourbon, its wonderful aroma was unmistakable. However, there was a strong aroma of pear that was unexpected but enjoyable for the first few seconds. I can’t think of another straight bourbon where pear was this prominent initially. Sadly, the pear dissipated after a while. As with all of Barrell's products, there is a Sweet creaminess in the nose. However, spice seems to dominate the nose early on in this private release. Letting the bourbon sit in the bottle for a while causes the caramel creaminess to open up.
Palate Review - Rating: 83
Mint and cinnamon spice start off this wonderful tasting experience. This Barrell bourbon private release is typical of all barrel products, it gets sweeter the longer the bottle is open. There’s a lot going on in the palate the more you drink it. In my opinion, there isn’t much better than a profile of spicy heat and sweetness. This is why Barrell is the premier blender in the industry.
This private release is combined comprised of a blend of straight bourbon whiskey. 35 5% five-year, 5% ten-year, 50% 14 year, and 10% 16 year it also seems that these are probably high rye Bourbons since there is a robust black pepper palate and the traditional high rye Bourbon elements you would expect, but with a low level of sweetness. It drinks smoother than it’s 111.38 proof sometimes, and other times it doesn’t. This quintessential high rye bourbon is not complex. It is just good, occasionally smooth, and sometimes not bourbon that has a richness that you would expect at this price point. This is my first pour of the bottle, the neck pour. I expect this bourbon to change quite a bit after I let it sit for a few weeks. That’s always the outcome with Barrell products, in my experience. They get better after the neck.
Finish Review - Rating: 83
The finish is peppery and has a heat that lasts a while. It is not a burning heat but a smooth heat that reaches the bottom of your abdomen.
Uniqueness Review - Rating: 77
While a good quintessential bourbon, it does not have any unique notes.
Value Review - Rating: 75
Priced at $85 and up, this is a pricey bourbon that does not justify its cost.
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Smell IS taste. I am just a guy who has been hit with the bourbon bug and who has come to the conclusion that life is too short to drink average tasting bourbons. Go Gators!
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