Barrell Bourbon New Year 2018 Cask Strength Limited Edition

Barrell Bourbon New Year 2018 is an unusually ambitious limited-edition blend, combining straight bourbons from Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Tennessee, and Texas, with whiskey ranging from 5 to 14 years old. Bottled at a full 111.2 proof (55.6% ABV) without dilution to a standard proof, it showcases Barrell Craft Spirits’ blending style at a time when sourcing whiskey from such a broad range of American distilleries was still relatively unusual. 

The nose is rich and dessert-like, opening with dark fruit, almond, vanilla, roasted coffee, cocoa, and seasoned oak. On the palate, the bourbon becomes dense and syrupy, bringing gingerbread, fig preserves, hazelnut, dark chocolate, baking spice, and cappuccino, balanced by minty and licorice notes. The finish is long and warming, with cocoa, coffee, mint, oak, and lingering dark fruit. A small splash of water pushes back the oak and reveals brighter raspberry, cranberry, candied citrus, and tropical-fruit notes. 

This is particularly interesting today because New Year 2018 is an older, discontinued Barrell release, rather than simply another current cask-strength bourbon. Contemporary reviews were favorable—Whisky Advocate rated it 89 points, while other reviewers noted both the complexity of the multi-state blend and how well the 111.2-proof whiskey handled its strength. 

Details

• Producer: Barrell Craft Spirits
• Type: Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
• Release: New Year 2018 Limited Edition
• Ages: 5, 7, 9, 10 & 14 years
• Origins: Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Tennessee & Texas
• Bottled: Kentucky
• Cask: American white oak
• Proof: 111.2
• ABV: 55.6%
• Strength: Cask Strength
• Size: 750ml
• Status: Discontinued / collectible older release