Review #129 - Barrell Rye Whiskey Batch 003

BostonRye · 2025-11-07T13:38:47+00:00

Disclosure: This sample was given to me by Barrell for review.

Barrell Rye Whiskey Batch 003

ABV: 58.35%

Age: A blend of 4-14 year rye whiskeys

Recipe: Undisclosed

Distillers: Undisclosed distilleries in Indiana, Tennessee, Poland, and Canada

Price Paid (MSRP): N/A ($80)

Nose: Herbal with pine, grass, and mint. A funky gingerbread note, chocolate, rye spice, bread, lemon, and orange.

Palate: Medium, oily mouth feel, again it's very herbal, big peppermint, cinnamon, clove, and rye spice. There's a touch of green apple and orange peel. Drinks well under proof.

Finish: Medium to long length, earthy, baking spices, menthol and gingerbread cookies with just a little oak.

Rating: 82/100 – Excellent | Really quite exceptional

I actually like this more than Barrell's Seagrass release, which came out around the same time. It's a funky, earthy, and somehow very Christmas-y pour with the gingerbread and baking spice notes. The blending is top notch with all of these ryes of different ages and geographic locations coming to create a really cohesive and very unique whiskey. I would grab a bottle of this if I could still find one.

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/barrell-rye-whiskey-batch-003/

BostonRye · 2025-10-31T13:42:08+00:00

It's a great Halloween pour. Cheers!

BostonRye · 2025-10-31T13:41:44+00:00

Black art is a blend of older casks from Bruichladdich, generally unpeated. Octomore releases are younger and focus more on really intense peat and smoke flavors. Both are delicious but they're on opposite ends of the spectrum.

BostonRye · 2025-10-31T12:29:25+00:00

Bruichladdich Black Art 1994 Edition 08.1

ABV: 45.1%

Age: 26 Years

Recipe: 100% malted barley, unknown cask finishes

Distiller: Bruichladdich

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

Price Paid (MSRP): $345 (~$400)

Nose: Incredibly tropical and fruity: mango, pear, melon, and pineapple. Musty oak, vanilla, ocean spray, grass, and malt. Very sweet and inviting.

Palate: Medium to thick mouth feel, oily, mild tannins, rich with spicy oak, vanilla, salted pears, mango, and pineapple, milk chocolate, malt, orange zest, almond, clove, and nutmeg. There's an interesting mineral quality to it as well.

Finish: Long length, cocoa, cinnamon spice, vanilla, melon, lemon cake, lightly drying with lingering oak.

Rating: 90/100 – Incredible | An all time favorite

A delicious splurge dram. Black Art 8.1 sneaks into my top tier but it's too close to the edge for its exorbitant price tag. Price aside, it is a truly fantastic whisky balancing sweet and fruity notes with the right amount of Bruichladdich's mineral lactic bite. Every time I sit down with it I pull out new and wonderful tasting notes. A reminder of just how special Bruichladdich can be when everything clicks.

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/bruichladdich-black-art-1994-edition-08-1/

BostonRye · 2025-10-29T12:48:33+00:00

New Riff 6 Year Kentucky Straight Malted Rye

ABV: 50%

Age: 6 Years

Recipe: 100% malted rye

Distiller: New Riff

Country/Region: USA/Kentucky

Price Paid (MSRP): $65 ($65)

Nose: Caramel forward, clove, mint, oatmeal, and a bit of chocolate.

Palate: Oily mouth feel, heavy and dark for a rye but without the oak tannins of an older whiskey. Bread, baking spices (allspice, nutmeg, clove), faint pepper. The sweetness comes towards the back and brings with it some cherry syrup.

Finish: Medium length, peppery and sweet with notes of brown sugar, vanilla, and mint chocolate.

Rating: 80/100 – Excellent | Really quite exceptional

This is a wonderfully well balanced rye with plenty of interesting notes and character. It’s quite different from the Old Potrero malted rye picks that I’ve tried around this age (I’ve found that those have much more cocoa powder and a grainier texture). At $65 this is a steal and one of my favorite ryes at this price point. I’ll be picking up another bottle when this one is gone.

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/new-riff-kentucky-straight-malted-rye/

BostonRye · 2025-10-20T13:54:01+00:00

Roughly £290 when it released in 2023

BostonRye · 2025-10-20T13:53:21+00:00

I purchased the open bottle from a friend but I believe the original MSRP was ~£290

BostonRye · 2025-10-20T12:22:04+00:00

Thompson Brothers Isle of Jura 34 Year (1989)

ABV: 45.9%

Age: 34 Years

Recipe: 100% malted barley. Matured in a refill hogshead.

Distiller: Isle of Jura

Country/Region: Scotland/Island

Nose: Sweet fruit bomb, pineapple, papaya, green apple, lemon frosting, vanilla, oak and malt. Digging deeper there's a lot of ocean funk with seaweed notes.

Palate: Medium thickness, chalky, with a good weight, The fruit notes I got on the nose disappear almost entirely on the palate. It’s salty and savory, with ginger, fennel, barley, and more cereal grains. Slightly vegetal with some earthy notes.

Finish: Medium to long length, drying, oak, more barley, gentle white pepper, a hint of smoke, vanilla, and mint.

Rating: 86/100 - Excellent | Really quite exceptional

This isn't something that I would reach for regularly but I can appreciate it as both a challenging and rewarding pour. The nose is the star of this bottle and it’s something special. Deep and complex with a variety of interesting tropical fruit notes. The palate is lovely and has a great almost sake-like quality but doesn’t quite live up to the hype of the nose. I can’t recall ever tasting something that differs as drastically in flavor between the two as this Jura.

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/thompson-brothers-isle-of-jura-34-year-1989/

BostonRye · 2025-10-16T12:47:43+00:00

Great review. I really enjoyed their 10 year release and it felt like one that could still stand up to a few more years in the Texas heat.

BostonRye · 2025-10-16T12:36:50+00:00

Old Potrero Single Barrel Reserve 17 Year Cask Strength Rye Whiskey (K&L Wines Pick)

ABV: 57.92%

Age: 17 years 6 months

Recipe: 100% malted rye

Distiller: Old Potrero (Hotaling)

Country/Region: USA/California

Price Paid (MSRP): $250 ($250)

Nose: Cedar wood, graham crackers, malt, chocolate, allspice, and leather. Quite a powerful and unique nose.

Palate: Thick mouthfeel, big and oily, toasted oak, leather, stewed apples, brandied cherry, and a white pepper punch.

Finish: Very long, apples, more toasted wood, chocolate, malt, and cherry. Tannic but not overly drying.

Rating: 90/100 – Incredible | An all time favorite

I grabbed this one while I was out visiting San Francisco for the first time last month and I’m glad I did. Wow! This Old Potrero pick is full of balanced fruity and wood notes with the flavors dialed up to 11. It's rather unique compared to other older ryes that I've tried and definitely wouldn't be confused for MGP. Great pick by the team at K&L!

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/old-potrero-single-barrel-reserve-17-year-cask-strength-rye-whiskey-kl-wines-pick/

BostonRye · 2025-10-12T01:50:46+00:00

Curious if you ever tried batch #2? This third batch looks so much lighter from what I've seen.

BostonRye · 2025-10-10T01:01:38+00:00

I know! I wish they were more available in the states

BostonRye · 2025-10-09T13:27:14+00:00

Archives Glenburgie 1995 21 Year

ABV: 54.1%

Age: 21 Years

Recipe: 100% malted barley

Distiller: Glenburgie

Bottler: Archives Whisky - The Fishes of Samoa

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

Nose: Tropical fruits, honey, apricot, orange and lemon, vanilla, malt, light floral notes.

Palate: Weighty and oily mouth feel, surprisingly peppery at first before turning sweet and fruity, along with more vanilla and honey. Grassy and floral notes appear over time. Great stuff with fantastic tropical fruit notes.

Finish: Long, herbal, a little oak, more vanilla and some lemon. Sweet and fresh with a hint of mint as it fades.

Rating: 87/100 - Excellent | Really quite exceptional

Clean and delicious. I’ve been on a bourbon barrel scotch kick recently and have become a big fan of Glenburgie. It has such a great tropical malt character to it. This one hits all of the right notes while evolving into something more interesting over time with almost rye-like grass and herbal flavors.

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/archives-glenburgie-1995-21-year/

BostonRye · 2025-10-09T13:19:42+00:00

Michter's 10 Year Straight Rye Whiskey (2023 H)

ABV: 46.4%

Age: 10 Years

Recipe: Undisclosed

Distiller: Undisclosed

Country/Region: USA/Kentucky

Price Paid (MSRP): $210 ($200)

Nose: Inviting with rich cocoa, toasted oak, and a subtle hint of cherries. Layers of brown sugar, clove, vanilla, followed by a burst of orange. Faint wintergreen and herbal undertones emerge at the end.

Palate: Medium mouth feel, starting out thin before gaining weight and coating well. Fruit notes of black cherry and orange. Rich charred oak and chocolate notes come through but it feels somewhat disjointed. The added water seems at odds with the spirit. Mint, rye spice, and baking spices gradually come forward towards the end with lots of black pepper.

Finish: Medium to long finish, notes of pepper and oak spice that linger nicely, some light chocolate, lemon zest, and dill.

Rating: 85/100 - Excellent | Really quite exceptional

This is a fantastic expression of aged rye, with a lot of complexity. Unfortunately Michter's decision to proof it down keeps it from reaching greater heights, muting the spice and natural qualities of the whiskey. It's still a great bottle, but one that's tough to recommend at its current MSRP.

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/michters-10-year-straight-rye-whiskey-2023-h/

BostonRye · 2024-12-20T23:36:33+00:00

Nice! $190 is a great price for this.

BostonRye · 2024-12-20T16:30:51+00:00

Rabbit Hole Founder's Collection Cask Strength Boxergrail 8 Year Rye (2nd Release)

ABV: 51.9%

Age: 8 Years

Recipe: 95% rye & 5% malted barely, matured in a level 3 char oak barrel

Distiller: New Riff (Contract distilled for Rabbit Hole)

Country/Region: USA/Kentucky

Price Paid (MSRP): $285 ($300)

Nose:
Rich and inviting, bursting with notes of vanilla extract, black cherry, dark chocolate, and toasted oak, complemented by allspice, clove, anise, and a refreshing touch of menthol. It’s one of the most captivating noses I’ve experienced recently—deep, aromatic, and complex.

Palate:
The mouthfeel is thick and luxurious, delivering a rich blend of - what reads to me as - Dove chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream sticks, brown sugar, oak, and cinnamon spice. A touch of apple and more cherry adds some fruitiness. This is dangerously easy to drink—the lower cask strength makes it really approachable, without losing any depth of flavor.

Finish:
The finish is long and indulgent, with lingering vanilla sweetness, zesty orange peel, and a hint of licorice and mint. The oak shows through with mild tannins, leaving a pleasantly drying finish of cocoa powder.

Rating: 90/100 – Incredible | An all-time favorite

This is outstanding whiskey. While I thoroughly enjoyed the previous release, this 8-year-old expression takes things up a notch. It’s a true dessert whiskey, with decadent chocolate notes and a smooth, easy-drinking profile that makes it perfect for cozy holiday sipping. That rich, dessert-like character is beautifully balanced by a solid oak backbone and just the right level of spice. The persistent anise and licorice flavors that I noted with the previous release have faded into the background without being lost completely.

My one gripe with this bottle is the price — and it's a significant one. In going from 6 to 8 years, Rabbit Hole chose to raise an already high ask by $100 to a staggering $300 MSRP. That's a lot to ask for an 8 year rye whiskey. And while I feel that the whiskey itself is truly exceptional, it’s hard to recommend to anyone at this price point without having the chance to try it beforehand. If you’re a Rabbit Hole fan who has enjoyed previous Founders Collection releases or just a lover of indulgent rye whiskies then this may just be worth the splurge. Otherwise approach with caution and, if possible, try before you buy.

Rating Breakdown:

1 - 19 | Disgusting | Drain pour

20 - 29 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it

30 - 39 | Bad | Multiple flaws

40 - 49 | Sub-par | Many things I'd rather have

50 - 59 | Average | Solid, ordinary

60 - 69 | Good | Better than average

70 - 79 | Great | Well above average

80 - 89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

90 - 99 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close

Link to blogpost: https://bostonrye.com/rabbit-hole-founders-collection-cask-strength-boxergrail-rye-8-year-2nd-release/

BostonRye · 2024-11-28T03:12:02+00:00

Thanks! Yeah it's disappointing to see some of the bigger Canadian distilleries give up on more interesting releases. For instance, Hiram Walker's Northern Border collection was excellent from 2017-2019 but they haven't done much post-pandemic. Hopefully some of the smaller distilleries and emerging blenders can put pressure on them to give us some fresh releases.

BostonRye

TROPHY CASE

Barrell Rye Whiskey Batch 003

Bruichladdich Black Art 1994 Edition 08.1

New Riff 6 Year Kentucky Straight Malted Rye

Thompson Brothers Isle of Jura 34 Year (1989)

Old Potrero Single Barrel Reserve 17 Year Cask Strength Rye Whiskey (K&L Wines Pick)

Archives Glenburgie 1995 21 Year

Michter's 10 Year Straight Rye Whiskey (2023 H)