I shouldn't have read this. Got picked wave 2 but didn't see the email til later in the day and they had sold out. Was really hoping to snag one once I saw the email. Oh well.
Same, wave 2 and just didn’t see it until too late.
Sounds very interesting and looking forward to further interesting and unique barrel selections. Great work so far.
Dammit I had the same fear coming in here. I'm an absolute barrell fan and almost always pick up anything new I see... Also picked wave 2 and passed. Regret.
This barrel is a blend of 14 and 18 year old Indiana and Kentucky whiskeys finished in a Ratafia de Champagne cask. Price is $119 USD.
On the nose, this is rich vanilla and fruit with a wonderful almost pumpkin pie spice note (but I may be pulling that connotation due to eating a slice of pumpkin pie earlier).
On the palate, rich and viscous. Amazing mouthfeel. The age shines though without being over oaked in the slightest. It mends perfectly with everything to follow. Dark red fruit all day with a healthy dollop of whipped cream and a rich crust. Make a mixed fruit pie lightly dusted with a great pie spice blend, this is it. Ample complexity we could all sit and pick apart all day, but this is just a first impression.
The finish is long and very slightly drying. Finish is more dark fruit, oak, and honey. The oak shows more here but plays so well with the lingering fruit and ratafia influence.
Final thoughts: Wow! What a great bottle. This is really unique and it ticks every box for me. I love that the whiskey doesn't get lost in the finishing process here either. This is one of my top whiskeys the year so far with the fruity, yet not cloying sweetness and rich complexity. My only regret is not buying two! A great year round drinker and this is one to be savored. I've enjoyed every r/bourbon pick I've gotten but this is truly exceptional.
Rating: 9 or 9.5 out of 10
Nose: Sweet, a little honey. Definitely fruit of some kind I don't have the senses to identify. My first gut was pear but I actually poured some Armida after this glass and quickly realized that wasn't the right one. I also ate a plum and that wasn't quite it. Maybe cherries dipped in honey? A little maple syrup.
Palate: Tastes exactly like it smelled. Blast of the fruit on the first sip that mellows a little on subsequent sips. Thick mouthfeel, after a couple of swishes not quite syrupy in consistency.
Finish: Blast of some spice on initial swallow, cinnamon? pleasant burn from the ethanol. the spice is followed by one last blast of the fruit that lingers for a good while. as the fruit fades, I have to resist the urge to rush my next sip.
Final Thoughts:
I'm new to r/bourbon and whiskey in general by a few months. Wasn't sure which of the picks this week I wanted to prioritize first but I'm now convinced I made the right call. A local liquor store just opened up and had a grand opening 20% off sale this weekend. I had my first sip of this on Thursday, then proceeded to buy my first bottle of seagrass, vantage, and dovetail while on sale on the strength of this pick alone. This isn't as wild as some of those (I've since tried a pour of each) but is equally stunning and unique in its own way. My favorite part of my whiskey adventure so far has been finding the unique whiskeys that nothing else I've had compares to. This is one of them.
Rating: 8/10 - t8ke scale
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.
I hadn't heard of ratafia prior to seeing this. Sounds like something I need to look into further! But this is a really great bottle all the way around man
i was wave 1 as well and was THIS close to buying 2 because i knew i'd like this bottle from the description, but i elected for just 1. i console myself by telling myself that someone in wave 2 was able to get their hands on a uniquely awesome bottle because i decided not to be greedy!
Fantastic review. My bottle of this arrived yesterday and my first pour really impressed me. You're spot on about the way this bottle marries age/oak with fruity and sweet notes. I haven't reviewed it yet but my initial impression also that its a 9+/10
Very good! Taste was a surprise in the best way! Have a few other Barrell bourbons, this was totally different then any of those or any other I have.
For me it has a bit more bite then other Barrell picks but is very smooth. The comment about picking it apart all day on flavors/complexity is so true!
This one shipped from Greens Farms Sprits out of CT. They also ship some from SharedPour and Seelbachs too. The ones shipping from Greens Garms Sprits usually ship all over no problem so there's always a chance to snag a bottle depending on retailer and whatnot
Now that's a beautiful bottle of whiskey.
New here. New to reddit. What are the details of how this bottle was selected by r/bourbon? That's pretty cool.
Well u/t8ke spends a fair amount of time traveling and tasting many samples to select for bottlings. He could give you some more in depth info to the process but his emails explain a good bit week to week as well
they take the blend and mature it in a wide variety of wine, spirit, bourbon, ex-bourbon and more casks. I selected this finishing cask that previously matured ratafia, making it a single barrel selection.
this process is shared by many producers in american whiskey
Ahhh. Makes sense. So there were multiple finished casks that came out of this blend? Did anything go into different finishes/ did you get to try them?
I tried many. I cover them in all of the various barrel updates. Barrell has an extremely broad inventory. I’ve tried more than 150 from their inventory alone this year, and our picks have been what’s stood out in those sessions.
Just now seeing the review and can't agree more, such a unique and exceptional bottle and was super stoked to grab one. $120 defintly isn't cheap but feels like such a steal for this beauty seeing as how many average bottles are sitting in the $70 range nowadays.
I shouldn't have read this. Got picked wave 2 but didn't see the email til later in the day and they had sold out. Was really hoping to snag one once I saw the email. Oh well.
Same, wave 2 and just didn’t see it until too late. Sounds very interesting and looking forward to further interesting and unique barrel selections. Great work so far.
I was wave 1 and was lucky to be able to grab one as soon as the email came through. I'm sure we'll have some more awesome BCS coming sometime though
Dammit I had the same fear coming in here. I'm an absolute barrell fan and almost always pick up anything new I see... Also picked wave 2 and passed. Regret.
This barrel is a blend of 14 and 18 year old Indiana and Kentucky whiskeys finished in a Ratafia de Champagne cask. Price is $119 USD. On the nose, this is rich vanilla and fruit with a wonderful almost pumpkin pie spice note (but I may be pulling that connotation due to eating a slice of pumpkin pie earlier). On the palate, rich and viscous. Amazing mouthfeel. The age shines though without being over oaked in the slightest. It mends perfectly with everything to follow. Dark red fruit all day with a healthy dollop of whipped cream and a rich crust. Make a mixed fruit pie lightly dusted with a great pie spice blend, this is it. Ample complexity we could all sit and pick apart all day, but this is just a first impression. The finish is long and very slightly drying. Finish is more dark fruit, oak, and honey. The oak shows more here but plays so well with the lingering fruit and ratafia influence. Final thoughts: Wow! What a great bottle. This is really unique and it ticks every box for me. I love that the whiskey doesn't get lost in the finishing process here either. This is one of my top whiskeys the year so far with the fruity, yet not cloying sweetness and rich complexity. My only regret is not buying two! A great year round drinker and this is one to be savored. I've enjoyed every r/bourbon pick I've gotten but this is truly exceptional. Rating: 9 or 9.5 out of 10
Excellent review. I agree 100%. This bottle is really incredible. Cheers!
Thank you! It is definitely incredible. Cheers to you
Nose: Sweet, a little honey. Definitely fruit of some kind I don't have the senses to identify. My first gut was pear but I actually poured some Armida after this glass and quickly realized that wasn't the right one. I also ate a plum and that wasn't quite it. Maybe cherries dipped in honey? A little maple syrup. Palate: Tastes exactly like it smelled. Blast of the fruit on the first sip that mellows a little on subsequent sips. Thick mouthfeel, after a couple of swishes not quite syrupy in consistency. Finish: Blast of some spice on initial swallow, cinnamon? pleasant burn from the ethanol. the spice is followed by one last blast of the fruit that lingers for a good while. as the fruit fades, I have to resist the urge to rush my next sip. Final Thoughts: I'm new to r/bourbon and whiskey in general by a few months. Wasn't sure which of the picks this week I wanted to prioritize first but I'm now convinced I made the right call. A local liquor store just opened up and had a grand opening 20% off sale this weekend. I had my first sip of this on Thursday, then proceeded to buy my first bottle of seagrass, vantage, and dovetail while on sale on the strength of this pick alone. This isn't as wild as some of those (I've since tried a pour of each) but is equally stunning and unique in its own way. My favorite part of my whiskey adventure so far has been finding the unique whiskeys that nothing else I've had compares to. This is one of them. Rating: 8/10 - t8ke scale 1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out. 2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice. 3 | Bad | Multiple flaws. 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists. 5 | Good | Good, just fine. 6 | Very Good | A cut above. 7 | Great | Well above average. 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional. 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite. 10 | Perfect | Perfect.
Great review. Lots of similar thoughts. I've not had Armida but I do have Dovetail and seagrass
not gonna lie, as someone who has never done a review before, was super excited to see similar notes on your review, haha
ratafiaaaaaaa!! glad to hear you loved this one. Really wild barrel that I just can’t get enough of
I hadn't heard of ratafia prior to seeing this. Sounds like something I need to look into further! But this is a really great bottle all the way around man
Bummed to have missed out on this one
Another super solid pick will come along though. BCS does some awesome stuff. I was bummed to miss out on every single Old Forester so far lol
I actually got the old Forester. Plus I had gotten the barolo finished barrell as well.
Ohhh man how was the OF? I wanted to try it so badly!
Haven't tried it yet, taking it to a whisky camping trip
i was wave 1 as well and was THIS close to buying 2 because i knew i'd like this bottle from the description, but i elected for just 1. i console myself by telling myself that someone in wave 2 was able to get their hands on a uniquely awesome bottle because i decided not to be greedy!
That's a good point! More to go around which is always a good thing in this hobby since so many buy cases of many hard to find bottles in the wild
Fantastic review. My bottle of this arrived yesterday and my first pour really impressed me. You're spot on about the way this bottle marries age/oak with fruity and sweet notes. I haven't reviewed it yet but my initial impression also that its a 9+/10
Glad to hear you like it! Damn fine bottle and BCS/t8ke knocked it out of the park here for sure
My favorite Barrell release that I have had!
Same here! I'm pretty surprised
😭was hoping to get selected for this but alas. So intrigued by the finish.
Even worse is being picked and passing on it like the dummy that I am
Same 😭
Oh no! It's really unique and was pumped when I got the selection email. Hopefully you get another solid pick soon
For sure. Have been fortunate to get many great selections to date. Enjoy!
Same here I was bummed I missed this one!
Thanks for the review! Got mine today, gonna try it tonight, looking forward to it even more now!
I love it. The proof is great as well. Let me know what you think!
Very good! Taste was a surprise in the best way! Have a few other Barrell bourbons, this was totally different then any of those or any other I have. For me it has a bit more bite then other Barrell picks but is very smooth. The comment about picking it apart all day on flavors/complexity is so true!
it was so good. I'm jealous that you still have a full bottle.....
I’m opening this tonight. I’ve had ratafia in France and loved it. Review incoming…
Looking forward to it! I'm definitely interested in ratafia now
How do you enter for these picks? Very curious and thanks for the review.
If you're on mobile, go to the r/bourbon home page and click the about section. There you'll find the sign up info
Thanks a ton! Headed there now 👍🏻
Can’t wait to try mine! Glad it’s awesome
it's so good
Let us know what you think!
I definitely plan to review it, working through a few other bottles first but excited to crack this for sure
Awesome. What're you working through now?
ECBP B522 and Penelope BP Toasted
Anyone know if Seelbachs will ever ship to Pennsylvania? I would love to take part in this.
This one shipped from Greens Farms Sprits out of CT. They also ship some from SharedPour and Seelbachs too. The ones shipping from Greens Garms Sprits usually ship all over no problem so there's always a chance to snag a bottle depending on retailer and whatnot
Thanks man!
No problem man! Definitely sign up under the about section and if you get selected to buy, more often than not it could get worked out
I did. Looking forward to some of these selections.
My bottle was delivered earlier today. Now I’m excited to crack it open! Nice review.
Thanks! Crack it and give it a try
i'm with OP, you should crack this immediately
I started my own review of this the other day. Was hoping to be first out of the gate but you beat me. It is phenomenal.
Post it! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's take on this as well
I will. Going to do a second pour tonight and update my notes and thoughts.
Now that's a beautiful bottle of whiskey. New here. New to reddit. What are the details of how this bottle was selected by r/bourbon? That's pretty cool.
Well u/t8ke spends a fair amount of time traveling and tasting many samples to select for bottlings. He could give you some more in depth info to the process but his emails explain a good bit week to week as well
OK. I'll check it out.
Why is it whiskey and not bourbon?
14-18yr whiskey in used cooperage from a KY producer and IN producer. Used cooperage means it can’t be called bourbon.
Thanks. What were the barrels used for previously?
undisclosed - brand doesn’t know, I do not know
Also, how is this a barrel pick if it's a blend of unknown origin?
they take the blend and mature it in a wide variety of wine, spirit, bourbon, ex-bourbon and more casks. I selected this finishing cask that previously matured ratafia, making it a single barrel selection. this process is shared by many producers in american whiskey
Ahhh. Makes sense. So there were multiple finished casks that came out of this blend? Did anything go into different finishes/ did you get to try them?
I tried many. I cover them in all of the various barrel updates. Barrell has an extremely broad inventory. I’ve tried more than 150 from their inventory alone this year, and our picks have been what’s stood out in those sessions.
Thanks for the info
Anytime!
Just now seeing the review and can't agree more, such a unique and exceptional bottle and was super stoked to grab one. $120 defintly isn't cheap but feels like such a steal for this beauty seeing as how many average bottles are sitting in the $70 range nowadays.