Vanilla extract | Caramel corn | Apricot | Strawberry | Cinnamon

Vanilla frosting | Raisin | Bubblegum | Brown sugar | Building heat

Cinnamon spice | Peppery oak | Raisin | Lingering heat

According to Barrell Craft Spirits, “Barrell Decade [is] a carefully crafted blend of whiskeys distilled each year from 1995 to 2005 showcasing secondary maturation in Spanish brandy and Hungarian oak casks. The new expression is the latest offering in the company’s Black Label Series which debuted last Fall and includes the 20-year-old Toasted Single Barrel, Toasted Vantage, Full Proof Bourbon, and 33-year-old Whiskey Finished in French Oak and Oloroso sherry casks.”

We are seeing a number of high aged whiskeys that were distilled in Canada and drink similarly to light whiskeys. Proofs are typically high, sometimes in the HAZMAT (140+) proof range like Barrell Decade, but still, they tend to drink much lower than their proof point. Decade brings the heat with 142+ proof, but like many others, it drinks less than this number suggests. Decade is filled with sweet flavors that are complemented by fruit notes at the onset. The aroma is full, with vanilla extract and caramel corn accented by apricot, strawberry, and cinnamon spice. On the palate, vanilla frosting, raisin, and brown sugar are met with a subtle yet unusual bubblegum flavor. Heat begins to build here, spilling over into the finish, which brings more cinnamon and raisin along with a welcome peppery oak note. The heat builds then lingers, making for a long finish.

High aged (and high proof) Canadian whiskeys and similarly aged light whiskeys tend to drink within a predictable, sweet, and high-quality range, and Barrell Decade is right on point. It differs by offering a slightly richer sip than you might typically find, and true to Barrell Craft Spirits’ ability to bring balance to their blends, Barrell Decade is a more balanced version of what you would typically see from this style of whiskey.