Review #259 - Barrell Cask Finish Series: Amburana
Barrell Craft Spirits, one of the leading blenders in the American whisky scene - here, they have a blend of straight bourbon whiskies, which is finished in Amburana barrels. Amburana, known colloquially as Brazilian oak, is a South American hardwood, which has become increasingly popular in whisky aging in recent years. It generally imparts a strong cinnamon flavor into the spirit.
Barrell states that this blend has a minimum age of 5 years, and we get a solid cask strength of 58.21% ABV (116 proof) - lots of flavor incoming, then. It's a blend of two different mashbills and new oak char levels, too.
Barrell Cask Finish Series: Amburana
USA - Bourbon
Current Locally Available Price: USD 79 (2024)
Age Statement: 5 Years
Strength: 58.21% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in Amburana barrels
Details: Edition 001; distilled in Kentucky and Indiana; 14,400 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months; bottles at 100%, 70%, and 60% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Cinnamon toast crunch, brown sugar, anise, and vanilla; lots of baking notes. Cinnamon is definitely the strongest scent, but there's also a decent amount of oak influence and some spirity heat lingering. Hints of orange, cherry candies, nuts, and amaro were occasional notes.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel; syrupy texture, along with some maple syrup flavor. Tons of cinnamon and a lot of oak, along with a lot of other sugary flavors: creme brulee, sugary cereals, brown sugar, and a churros. There's a spice as well, like pepper and cayenne.
Finish: Medium length; lots of sweet baking notes linger. Freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies, cinnamon oatmeal, vanilla, and chai spice; wood smoke and red pepper flakes add a spicy side, along with some heat from the strength. Toast and hints of grain are found in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Packed with baking spice flavor, especially on the sweeter side, and that cinnamon element from the Amburana oak is definitely a dominant flavor. It is a slightly simple bourbon, a bit one-dimensional, and despite the level of oakiness, not overly mature. Still, nice enough to sip on, if you're ready for the proof point.
Value is alright - if you like the Amburana style, this is a good one, but if you don't favor those flavors in particular, there's more interesting whisky available at the price point.
Our Average Rating: 6.6 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.06
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