Various
Barrell Craft Spirits
55.15%%
NAS (5-16 Years)
Released annually toward the end of the year by independent blender Barrell Craft Spirits, Barrell Bourbon New Year is a limited release priced at $84.99. This year's blend is composed of 5-, 6-, 8-, 11- and 13-year-old Indiana bourbons; 5-, 6- and 10-year-old Kentucky bourbons; 8-, 10- and 16-year-old Tennessee bourbons; 9- and 13-year-old Wyoming bourbons; 5-year-old New York bourbon; and 5-year-old Ohio bourbon. The final mashbill of the blend is 74% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley and 1% wheat. It's bottled at 110.3 proof.
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On the nose, Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 is lovely and dessert-forward. There's a big chocolate-covered cherry note, joined by cinnamon, buttercream frosting, and French toast slathered in maple syrup and dusted with powdered sugar.
Moderate viscosity that coats the palate nicely. Cocoa powder meets cookie butter, caramel-coconut cookies, brandied cherries, clove and cinnamon. There's quite a significant oak influence here, as well, which works well with the sweetness.
The finish leans spicier and oakier, but still with plenty of sweetness hanging around. Xocolatl, cinnamon, gingerbread, dark chocolate-mint candies, brûléed sugar, oak, tannin and a light minerality.
A very solid batch of New Year from Barrell. It's oaky, sweet and spicy — thoroughly enjoyable. Barrell New Year has become a classic holiday gifting bourbon (the "New Year" branding works well for this time of year), and if you're one who's gifting it, 2026 won't disappoint your recipient.
91
Disclosure: The producer provided this sample to review free of charge, and without expectation of review or rating.
