Our Rating System
86
Overall Score
88
Nose
89
Palate
80
Finish
July 16th, 2024
@ Home / Portland, OR
David Zumini

Barrell Armida

Distillery

Barrell

Type

Bourbon

Age

NAS

Strength

56.14%

Cask Type

Amaro
Pear Brandy
Rum

Edition

-

Cask No.

-

Price Paid

-

Tasting Notes

This is a great whiskey, and a fine example of the kind of unique products Barrell consistently releases. There's quite a lot going on here, and it goes down all-too-easily despite being 112+ proof. Each of the 3 finishes bring something to the equation here, though the amaro is perhaps the most unique and interesting among them.

This is an annual release, with some natural variation year-to-year, and is likely to be an annual purchase for me going forward. I highly recommend it!

Appearance

Color

Clarity

Clear
Hazy
Opaque

Legs

Slow
Medium
Fast

Nose

A variety of baking spices, anise, and hints of rootbeer-like sarsaparilla layered with poached pear, and a touch of cacao and vanilla. There's a bit of a "dusty" note to the nose as well, for lack of a better word.

Cereal

-

Fruit

Pear

Organic

Dusty

Spice

Anise
Baking Spices
Clove
Sarsaparilla

Wood

-

Other

Chocolate
Vanilla

Palate

Maple sweetness mixed with cola and a bit of walnut bitterness. Hints of tobacco and ginger, alongside anise/licorice coming through. The amaro brings a nice twist to the table here!

Sweetness

Dry
Semi-Dry
Medium
Semi-Sweet
Sweet

Mouthfeel

Smooth
Medium
Harsh

Flavor

Light
Medium
Rich

Cereal

-

Fruit

Date

Organic

-

Spice

Ginger
Licorice

Wood

-

Other

Cola
Maple Syrup
Tobacco
Walnut

Finish

While still quite good, the finish doesn't live up to the robust and complex flavors on the nose and palate. It's relatively light, with notes of black tea and grenadine.

Cereal

-

Fruit

Grenadine

Organic

-

Spice

-

Wood

-

Other

Black Tea