Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 is one of the most recent batches of Barrell to hit the market and if you’re not familiar with them, you should be. They’re a powerhouse bourbon blending company that’s put out some real bangers in the recent past.
Like all of their whiskeys, batch 033 is a blend of straight bourbons – these ones are from Indiana (MGP), Tennessee (TDL), and KY (Barton, Heaven Hill or Bardstown). And like all of their other releases we know the states the whiskey is from because it’s on the back label like it should be (the distilleries are my source guesses).
Now, let’s get to drinkin’!
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Bourbon (straight blend)
Region: TN, KY, IN
Distillers: Undisclosed
Mash Bill: At least 51% Corn + Rye + Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 5 Years
ABV: 58.3%
Batch: 033
Bottles: 19,675
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 Price: ~$90*
Related Whiskey
Barrell Bourbon Batch 032
Barrell Bourbon Batch 030
Barrell Bourbon Batch 024
Barrell Bourbon Batch 023
Barrell Bourbon Batch 022
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 Tasting Notes
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
Complex dark sweets (caramel, butterscotch, toffee, etc.) dried fruit, roasted corn, vanilla, a touch biscuity, and some light nutmeg notes.
A surprisingly sweet and un-oaky aroma for Barrell.
PALATE
Caramel, dried fruit, toffee, roasted nuts, cinnamon, dried cherries, some clove, Twizzlers, and citrus.
Again, surprisingly sweet and un-oaky for Barrell, it’s a profile I wasn’t expecting from them.
FINISH
Med-long -> Toffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, and fruity sweetness.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well-balanced, med-full body, slightly drying and lightly oily.
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 – Overall Thoughts and Score
Three-word summary: Candy sweet bourbon
There’s obviously oak influence here, but it’s so balanced it’s partially hidden and I don’t get that heavy “oak” note so common in well-matured bourbon. But it’s not youthful and spirity either. It hits a balanced inflection point between spirity and oaky where neither shows up. Which, there’s nothing wrong with, it just defies their “house style” a bit. And that’s not a bad thing.
It’s great to see them change up that core expectation, especially when what they deliver in that change-up isn’t bad. And that’s exactly what this Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 is, not bad… not bad at all.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)
*Disclosure: The bottle for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 Review $90
Overall
- Nose
- Palate
- Finish
- BBF
User Review
( votes)( reviews)
SOLID !
very full-flavored and viscous.. a fairly long finish. leaves a fresh taste in your mouth.
Cheers!
A Proven Winner
Thought this was a pleasing batch (as most all of Barrell’s bourbons tend to be) with decent oak and touches of sugared stone fruits work nicely together.
Thinking about value, I would now put this ahead of the once a year limited Remus Repeal Reserve series. While the RRR is 100% MGP juice the bump in price to $100 and it holding it’s abv at 50% doesn’t make it a “must buy” anymore. The Barrell is easier to find throughout the year (came across a Batch 13 this week on shelves) is now cheaper at SRP and carries a higher proof point. Winner!
I’ve only had two Barrell products I didn’t care for, otherwise they’re a consistent source of good-to-great bourbon. And not horribly priced for cask strength. Cheers!