92 points
Barrell New Year Cask Strength (2022 Edition), 57.67%
Licorice, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, raspberry jelly, fragrant wild herbs, whiffs of polished oak, and a hint of bubble gum on the nose. The palate offers strawberry shortcake, allspice, ground chile pepper, and bitter espresso. Water brings out more peppery spice and dark chocolate. Excellent length on the finish, with semi-sweet chocolate cake, plum tart, cherry coulis, and savory spice at the back. Spicy, rich, lively, and flavorful. (18,000 bottles) Editor's Choice
Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)
Flavorful on the nose, offering fresh orange and red berries, strawberry tart, marzipan, and sweet coffee. A rich chewy palate offers tiramisu and chocolate syrup, with impressive depth and balance chocolate, spice, cinnamon, and cooked fruit, all melding well. This is a big whiskey, exuding winter warmth in the glass, warm bakery shop, and lively spice. Excellent length on the finish, ending with a dessert-like rush of chocolate cream pie and babka.
Fragrant with Grape-Nuts, grape hard candy, caramel-covered marshmallows, and cinnamon bun on the nose. Very powerful on the palate, with a spicy, hard grip and notes of roasted coffee beans, spiced vanilla, and raspberry pie. Water brings out grain-forward and bitter lemon aromas and sweet dessert notes, semi-sweet chocolate, and pepper spice. Great length on a finish offering orange-tart fruitiness, vanilla cream, bitter espresso, and fresh grain.
Black cherry tartness, new leather, and clove-studded orange, along with bubble gum, cream soda, and chocolate layer cake sprinkled with cocoa powder. Flavorful and spicy on the palate, showing strawberry, baking spice, and cinnamon bun, with the flavors holding together superbly. Definitely needs water. A long, balanced finish offers generous helpings of cinnamon and more chocolate. Very high proof, but does not hide behind it—a well-built whiskey. (5,100 bottles)
Creamy and rich on the nose, with vanilla bean, tiramisu, and milk chocolate, melding with orange peel, lemon, and fresh rye notes. Deep red fruit and lots of spice on the palate, with chocolate and pepper, then softening into milk chocolate, plum tart, and caramel apples. Rich fruit notes, baked fruit tart, coffee, chocolate, and spice on the finish. Balanced fruit cup sweetness, spice, and chocolate overall.
Deploying sherry casks seasoned with O’Hara’s Brewery’s stout, this delivers a delightful balance of fresh fruit and chocolate notes, with aromas of sweet vanilla, malt, coffee, orange, and melon. Charming sherry and light berry notes initially, a beautiful slow-paced development from the stout influence ensues, as the texture thickens satisfyingly with citrus, gentle spices, vine fruit, ginger nuts, crystalized pineapple, malty chocolate, and mocha. (3,000 bottles for the U.S.) 
This one is all about the wood spices and oak up front, backed by runny caramel, banana split, lime zest, and cooking apple spices. The Irish oak spices run riotously, with flavors of vanilla, toffee, baked apple, and nougat settling down reluctantly once cosseted by the indulgent taste of banoffee pie and milk chocolate. More a lovable rogue than an outright troublemaker.
This brings together a multitude of oddball grain notes for a fantastic nosing and tasting experience. Aromas of new leather, pineapple, new sneakers, fresh-cut grass, lemon zest, fuchsia, honey, lavender-scented candles, and soft oak. The flavors revolve around dark berries, leather, hazelnut praline, black currant cassis, condensed wood sugars, pepper, and ginger, and then wallow luxuriantly in melted chocolate followed by a dry finish. Grain, glorious grain. (152 bottles)
On the nose this whiskey melds orchard and tropical fruits with cocoa and cinnamon. The kiwi and lime custard aroma playfully bounces off notes of black-and-white milkshake. It delivers a beautifully textured palate, with a spot-on balance of spice and heat. Apple pie with an abundance of cinnamon tucks in with roasted peanuts and honey. The finish recalls the chocolate of the nose and the palate’s fruit and spice. (222 bottles)
The nose on this Tennessee bourbon is sweet and syrupy. Cola and cherry soda weave around chocolate, oak, and honey. Beneath the sweet notes, there are aromas of fennel, roasted peanuts, and a whisper of mustiness. The palate is robust, with jammy fruits, dried berries, candied orange atop hot chocolate, and peanuts. Excellent texture, with a finish—syrupy cooked berries, cinnamon, and
chocolate—that ties the whole sip together. (3,000 bottles)
A superb balance of restrained sweetness, with a nose boasting creaminess, lemon mousse, zested lime, black pepper, oak shavings, floral bouquets, and Seville oranges. The gloriously thick texture gives this real presence, showing lemon bonbon, vanilla, key lime pie, and candied peel, while spices froth away in the background. It mellows delightfully, losing some of the acidity and taking on a soft creaminess. (250 bottles for the U.S.)
Maraschino cherries, spiced pears, ginger, and a hint of allspice on the nose, plus antique-shop mustiness, orange tart, and earthy aromatic spice. Smooth on the palate, with loads of spice atop chocolate and fruit notes, raspberry coulis, dark cherry, caramel, and cigar box. Water produces Creamsicle, blackberry jam, and pepper spice. The finish is long and delicious, with notes of brown sugar and maple syrup. A bounty of flavors and spices.
Their fourth annual release has a beautifully fruity nose, bursting with red currant, plump raisin, orange peel, pomegranate, malt, rich caramel, and black currant cassis. The combination of port and madeira casks makes this a delicious and indulgent drop. It pairs admirably with hard cheeses, and showcases flavors of spicy stewed fruits, creamy toffee, malt, peppercorn, black cherry, licorice, chocolate, and charred oak. Just add a roaring fire and good company.
Drawn from a solera that blends two 5 year old MGP ryes (95% rye, 5% malted barley and 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley), this whiskey opens with toasted marshmallow, almond, and lemon merengue, backed by oak and caraway on the nose. The sip balances rock-candy sweetness and an oak backbone, with lemon candies and sweet berries poking through. The finish is a winner, with great length revealing earth and spice. (1,800 bottles)
Earthy and pleasantly pungent on the nose, softening in the glass and yielding to aromas of cooked dark fruit, figs, raisins, and nougat. The palate is chewy, rich, and has balanced heat—offering flavors of raspberry preserves and other jammy fruits, along with cinnamon and dark chocolate. Excellent length on a finish of sweet vanilla and more cinnamon, plus subtle red fruit, sweet corn, and an earthy note at the end. 
An inviting vanilla swirl of whipped cream and marshmallow starts things off on the nose, balanced against fresh oak and grain, cherries, chocolate, and cola. Tasty spice and good balance on a palate that also offers milk chocolate, vanilla cream, and black-cherry ice cream. A long, smooth finish brings licorice, dark chocolate, and spice. A flavorful whiskey that integrates alluring spice notes, candied sweetness, fruit freshness, and rich chocolate.
Sharp and spicy on the nose, with slowly emerging notes of grape jelly, wild strawberries, earthiness, oak, and new leather. Jammy and fruity on a palate that is lightly spiced and offers cinnamon-covered baked apples, gingersnaps, brown sugar, coffee, and cracked pepper. A mid-length finish completes the ride with spicy notes of chicory, camp coffee, dark chocolate, more cinnamon, and light pecan nuttiness. Tasty and pleasurable—smooth and pronounced flavors.