There’s nothing like opening a new bottle and having that fabulous breath of whiskey permeating your bar. This was certainly the case with Barrell Rye Batch 4, 5.5 Years, another great Barrell Craft Spirits experience.
Fig.1 - This sample was provided by Barrell Craft Spirits with no expectations.
Nose
After the initial burst of aromas, while opening Barrell Rye Batch 4, there was ethanol. It was prominent for a moment. I swirled the glass to see if I could clear the alcohol smell and release the good notes. Then, an excellent light fruit, rye, caramel, apple, and even mild cinnamon mix appeared. Additionally, lemony, herbaceous, and minty notes came forward later in the nosing - white pepper too. Barrell Rye Batch 4 is an intricate nosing that keeps evolving. The ethanol keeps making an appearance.
Palate
On the first sip, lemon, herbs, and rye notes combine to create a wonderfully oily and slightly hot tasting experience. Barrell Rye Batch 4 is a fresh, lemony, earthy, and sweet heat pour. The derived mash bill is 89% rye, 7% corn, and 4% malted barley. As I expect with most Barrell products, this rye has a moderately dense and oily mouthfeel. I wouldn’t say the oiliness is weighty, but it is noticeable. Wow, is that grape bubble gum on the mid-palate morphing into a minty theme? Like the nose, the palate of Barrell Rye Batch 4 is constantly evolving.
The blend components for the 115.7 proof Barrell Rye Batch 4 are all straight ryes comprised of 5, 6, & 10 years old Indiana rye, 5 years old Tennessee, 6 years old Kentucky rye, and 14 years old Canadian rye.
Finish
The heat is kicked up a notch on the finish while Barrell Rye Batch 4 maintains its sweetness. The lemongrass notes carry through to the finish, and if you forget about the rye and grape Bubblicious chewing gum notes, they return on the finish.
Conclusion
Barrell Rye Batch 4 is a complex rye that maintains its rye nature throughout the tasting expereince.