Company: Barrell Craft Spirits
Distillery: Blend of American and Canadian Rye Whiskey
Region: Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Canada
Aging: No Age Statement – Finished in Mizunara, French Oak, and Toasted American Oak Barrels
ABV: 56.77%
Proof: 113.54
Mash Bill: Undisclosed
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $85
Barrell Vantage Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Amber
Nose: Caramel, candied fruit, sugar candy, vanilla, toasted oak, apricot, peach, citrus, rye spice, light cinnamon, brown sugar
Palate: Sweet caramel, cinnamon brown sugar, oak, tannins, rye spice, black pepper, light fruits, citrus
Finish: Long finish with an oily mouthfeel but also a bit of heat – leaves you with an oaky chewy mouthfeel full of fruits and rye spice with a lingering pepper spiciness on the tail end
Is Barrell Vantage an Approachable Whiskey?
Barrell Vantage packs quite a punch.
The nose is deceiving and smells very sweet and fruity.
But once the whiskey hits your palate, your taste buds will wake up quickly with heavy oak and tannic flavors then twist into a nice rye spice and black pepper heat.
Is Barrell Vantage Complex?
Barrell Vantage has a lot of flavors happening on the nose in particular, but the palate is more straightforward.
The nose really accentuates the finishing in the Mizunara, French Oak, and Toasted American Oak Barrels and each of those flavor notes shines through.
However, on the palate, the whiskey isn’t quite as complex.
While it is a delicious pour, the amount of heat and the tannic oak notes outweigh some of the more unique flavor notes I get on the nose.
The finish is quite nice if you enjoy an oily, buttery mouthfeel that is quite chewy and may remind you of a nice dry red wine finish where you feel like the moisture is sucked out of your mouth for 30 seconds.
The level of heat on the finish may turn off beginner whiskey drinkers and even possibly some experienced whiskey connoisseurs.
What are Barrell Vantage’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Barrell Vantage’s strongest attribute is its beautiful nose.
When you smell this whiskey, it is really just a delight.
It is so full of sweet caramel and brown sugar notes backed up by all the lovely light fruits and spices.
Is Barrell Vantage a go-to whiskey?
Barrell Vantage is more of a unique whiskey that is reserved for special occasions or shared with friends who like a unique flavor profile.
Is Barrell Vantage priced accurately to its quality?
Barrell Vantage is a bit pricey for what it delivers.
I would recommend purchasing a bottle of Barrell Bourbon over this specialty bottle, but only because Barrell Bourbon (batch 34 in particular) over-delivered on its price tag which was similar to this bottle.
Conclusion for Barrell Vantage
Barrell Vantage is a decent whiskey and I do really enjoy Barrell’s products overall.
But I would honestly recommend picking yourself up a bottle of Barrell Seagrass which is my favorite bottle from Barrell overall.
The Barrell Bourbon Batch 34 would be a close second and they both overdeliver on the price tag.
Overall, if you’re looking for a unique whiskey that offers a nose you may not get anywhere else, give this bottle a shot… just don’t expect to be blown away.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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