Company on Label: Barrell Craft Spirits
Whiskey Type: Finished Rye Whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed
Proof: 118.4°
Age: NAS (~5 to 12 year blend)
Further identification: Bottle # 2596
Nose: Lemon glaze frosting, super floral and herbaceous. Slightly smoky but mostly really sweet scents. Citrus mint. Grassy and light earthiness, like a pine forest. Such a creamy, dreamy and thoroughly smoothed nose experience. Later on some of the more traditional rye notes appear like a dusty oak, chocolate and pepper. A silky vanilla can be pulled out on deep inhales as well. It evolves to a marshmallow as it continues to open with time and warm outdoor air. This is an intensely layered experience thanks to the crazy triple finish. The rum gives it that oily, tropical spin... the Madeira packs in some extra sweetness... and the brandy brings the floral, citrus punch. Really, this came together perfectly on the nose.
Palate: Instant thick apricot cream. Big first mouth coating. Tropical fruit like a pineapple cocktail tastes delicious early on. The fortified wine experience is also very prevalent with stewed fruits like pear and apricot leading the charge while a strawberry vanilla smoothie tries to push its way through the syrupy, heavy, sweeter fruit. Chewing on this one a bit I turn up quite a lemon and grapefruit zest. This combined with a fully materialized mint note manages to finally sting my tongue just enough where I remember this is a 118.4 proof neat pour. Smaller sips are as approachable as can be. Grapefruit and pineapple goes phenomenal together. I don't usually go for fruity drinks but now I think I want to try that combination with some white rum. Again, top notch in layers and complexity. The finish comes and goes at its leisure and honestly I think I prefer this one to not have too much of a high rising, proofy explosion. I'm here for the sweetness and sunshine. Yum.
Rating: 5/5
