Barrell Bourbon Bourbon Pursuit & Bourbonr Single Barrel (53.4%): I almost missed the National Bourbon Heritage Month but I have a special bottle to make it up... It is a 14yo single barrel bourbon picked by Bourbon Pursuit and Bourbonr and bottled by Barrell Bourbon. The label says that it is distilled in Tennessee and there is only one distillery in Tennessee we know of that is willing to offer a 14yo single barrel to independent bottlers. So, our guess is George Dickel if the master distiller Tripp Stimson didn't pull a hat trick miraculously using his early Jack Daniels connections. I doubt it though... So assuming it being sourced from Dickel the mash-bill should be 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley...
Color: Chestnut honey... Deep orange color with very slow moving legs all around the glass.
Nose: Burnt cornbread, roasted walnuts and thick, syrupy pecan pie. Peanut brittles, toasted oak staves and honey roasted nuts. Old leather upholstery, dry tobacco and candied orange zest... Burnt caramel. Although I am not so fond of heavily corn driven noses usually it is very promising. Adding a few drops of water dials corn a little down and gives a nice dusty bourbon quality.
Palate: Initial taste is more tart than sweet... Prunes, dried apricots and apple vinegar. It gets sweeter in the glass after allowing it air few minutes: Raw honey, canned peach and chai latte. Burnt rice pudding and red apples. Lightly toasted oak and wet tobacco. Water cuts down the tartness a bit. That being said it is actually totally sippable without adding any water. I might skip it next time.
Finish: I think this is my favorite part... Long with tart and sweet notes. Calvados, cumin and nutmeg. Great finish...
Overall: I was a little concerned after the nose the whole journey being all about corn but not at all. It has that great tartness on the palate and at the finish I enjoyed immensely. Sour and underripe stone fruits, vinegar and dairy notes. Not over-oaked in spite of its age and easily drinkable at full strength. I think I will have good times with this bottle. It is a winter bourbon...
Price: $90
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