Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon is a craft bourbon blended by the team at Barrell Craft Spirits (owned by Joe Beatrice). Each blend is one off, always barrel strength, and without chill filtration (see interview about blending with Joe and Bourbon Pursuit duo below).

They are also transparent with where they source their spirits from which I appreciate as a consumer. There’s no granpappy’s recipe discovered yarn being spun with Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon.

This bourbon whiskey is the first barrell craft release from 2018, was aged for 15 years, and blended from bourbon whiskey distilled in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee but bottled in KY. The bourbon whiskey being age stated means the youngest whiskey in the blend is 15 years.

It’s their premium offering. And we’ll get to whether it’s worth the hefty price tag at the end.

Start shopping for bourbon swag for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.

Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon (2018) Review

“This complex 15-year-old bourbon was blended and bottled at peak maturity so you can experience its true flavor. It is a perfect union of grain and barrel, with an old, oaky nose and a deep, honey- maple palate that reveals the lushness of the grain.” (Barrell Spirits).

I didn’t try this with any water but Barrell Craft Spirits provides this note with a splash of water:

Those nose grows beguilingly perfumed, notes of apple blossom, hyacinth, applewood smoke and mulled cider released from the overbearing fruitiness, which has developed a more tropical character in the form of pineapple, mango and papaya. The palate becomes fuller and brighter, notes of mango and peach nectar overlay fresh ginger. Almond milk and white chocolate on the finish are given lift by spearmint.

Glass

Rust. Twirling the bourbon in my glencairn produced ribbons of bourbon around the fat bottom of the glass.

Nose

Movie theater popcorn, uncooked sourdough bread, light caramel, dried fruit, and roasted macadamia nuts

Taste

Creamy roasted macadamia nuts on front palate, subtle rock fruit, then building baking spice and oak open mid palate through the back.

Creamy AF.

Finish

It’s a perfectly balanced finish that lasts but doesn’t overwhelm. Hints of the creaminess but the savory notes get their guitar solo.

Verdict – The Bourbon Bard Gold (95 Points)

Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon is astounding. It’s complex and delicious. If I had to nitpick just a bit — this is more like a backyard fireworks display instead of the Disney World firework display.

Of course, I gave it a 95 so Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon is a must-buy if you can find it at retail or find a reasonable trade. I’ll be interested in this year’s release.

Where to buy? Find out here.

Start shopping for bourbon swag for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.