As one of the leading experts in fusing traditional whiskey-making and new-age innovation, Barrell Craft Spirits still always finds a way to further perfect its craft. While its main line of seasonal straight bourbon releases is enough to keep its reputation high, its array of creative ongoing series continues to push the bounds of the spirit’s flavor profiles. And as its whiskey is always bottled at cask strength, the true essence of the liquor always presents itself in full force.
Already seen in the likes of its Dovetail, Seagrass, and Armida series — which each consists of combined barrels of specific secondary maturations in the likes of former rum, port, or brandy casks — Barrell’s latest ongoing Vantage series finds its finishing in brand-new oak barrels. Blending together bourbon that’s been aged in either Japanese Mizunara oak, French oak, or American oak, Vantage shows off the Kentucky-based distillery’s expertise while showcasing the diverse characteristics of wood.
Essentially, Vantage doesn’t stray far from the essence of bourbon in that all three barrels are virgin (one of the requirements for bourbon is that the casks must be new). Like all its other releases, Barrell’s Vantage whiskey is made up of distillations from three different states: Indiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The end result is a layered profile consisting of espresso, spice, maple, grilled pineapple, and nutmeg notes, with notable characteristics from each barrel.
Bottled at 114.44 proof, Barrell Vantage is now available through Barrell’s website and select retailers for $80.
