Each autumn Barrell constructs a very special blend of Bourbon to use as a toast to the year to come. As opposed to the regular batch releases which typically are blends of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee bourbon, the new year bottlings include bourbons from all across the country, from a variety of large, small, and absolutely tiny distilleries. This 2021 release is a selection of 5, 9, 10, and 11-year-old straight bourbon whiskeys, distilled in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, New York, Texas, Wyoming, and Colorado. These were all further aged in Barrell's warehouses in Kentucky before being blended and bottled at a cask strength of 59.65% abv.

The nose is distillate driven, but with ample variety of primary fruit flavors, among them gooseberry, apple, watermelon rind, and peach. The oak is fresh but quite gentle, smelling of vanilla, toasted coconut, and sawdust. Corn lends a strong creamy foundation of toasted almond, lemon curd, and baguette. Cilantro and wintergreen hint at some light rye spice.

Despite the strength and minimal tannin, a sweetness lends a clear weight to the palate. It opens fresh and grassy, on Yorkshire pudding with mushy peas, genepy, and thyme. As it sits on the palate, juicy fruits emerge, notably persimmon, raisin, and black tea with lemon. The finish shows an initial burst of minerals: limestone, flint, and steel. These give way to a potpourri of herbs and spices: apple blossom, hyssop, wild mint and clove.

Bourbon & Corn Whiskeys