Wildflower honey | Soft baked bread | Slight oak | Light mixed berry jam | Touch of graham cracker | Soft & gentle yet full of delicious aromas

Baked bread | Aged oak | Light leather | Slight dried raisins | Touch of rye grain | Elderflower | Honey |  Rye spice

Peppercorn spice | Rye spice | Dab of honey | Dry oak | Leather | Gentle grain | Undulating heat | Lingering

Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS) is back with their 5th iteration of Gray Label Bourbon. For this year’s release, the company has deviated from their past age-stated releases, instead opting to have this year’s release be a no-age statement bourbon. The company states that “this release of Gray Label Bourbon is constructed from bourbons of varying ages made from five different mash bills. After marrying, the blend goes into casks made using 36-month air-dried staves that previously held Gray Label Bourbon, to rest and further mature.” What hasn’t changed is the asking price, which once again comes in at the standard Gray Label price of $250.

At only 0.18 proof points higher than last year’s release, this year’s Gray Label Bourbon is still on the lower end of the proof spectrum. However, don’t let its proof fool you, as the sip is full of flavor. It starts off with a fantastic nose that is soft and gentle but full of delicious aromas such as wildflower honey and mixed berry jam. It transitions into a midpoint that carries forward more traditional flavors along with more off the beaten path ones such as dried raisins and elderflower. Ending on spice and more earthy notes, a lingering heat allows you to take your time between sips. This year's edition of BCS Gray Label Bourbon sticks the landing and continues to strengthen the fact that BCS Gray Label delivers in spades, although it will cost you for the privilege.