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On Friday, Barrell Craft Spirits expanded its Cask Finish Series with a new expression finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels. It's the latest in an unconventional series that's previously recruited help from ice wine, Mizunara, Jamaican rum and Amburana casks to finish the brand's blended whiskeys.
The expression begins with a blend of nine and ten-year-old Kentucky bourbons, seven and fifteen-year-old bourbons from Tennessee and six, seven, eight and twelve-year-old bourbons from Indiana. The end result comes out to a mashbill of 80% corn, 16% rye and 4% malted barley that's finished in sherry casks for an undisclosed period.
Barrell says to expect aromas of pecan streusel and tobacco followed by a rich and varied palate of Madagascar vanilla, pound cake and spiced pears. As has become tradition for the brand, the expression is bottled at a cask strength of 57.76% ABV (115.52 proof).
Those hoping to pick up the bottling can now find it at select retailers and the Barrell Bourbon website at a suggested retail price of $84.99 per 750-milliliter bottle.
Few cask types are used within the spirits industry quite as much as Pedro Ximénez sherry. Often abbreviated to "PX," the dessert wine originates from the so-called Sherry Triangle of southwestern Spain, specifically the Montilla-Moriles region. Known for its darkened flavors of raisins and dried figs, PX sherry has established itself as the cask finish of choice for countless scotch brands. You'll also find the barrels used in a handful of tequilas and rums alongside the occasional bourbon release.
Barrell has historically had a pretty great track record with its Cask Finish Series. Our personal favorite has to be its Amburana finish, released in 2023 at an ABV of 58.9% ABV. Though Amburana casks often get a bad rep (and for good reason), we were floored by this expression's bruising mix of honey, buttercream, caramel and nutmeg that enveloped the palate. The whiskey currently holds a stellar Raided Score® of 95 on our site and is, in our opinion, easily one of the best Amburana-finished spirits that money can buy.
For more information on Barrell's latest release, find tasting notes for the P.X. Sherry Cask Finish below.
Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: P.X. Sherry Tasting Notes, Per the Brand:
Nose: "Initial impressions of a newly opened cigar box, baked golden delicious apple and pecan streusel. Diving deeper aromas of freshly cut tobacco and golden raisin combine for an herbaceous and fruity harmony."
Palate: "Electric on the tip of the tongue, full body with coating numbness within the cheeks. Smoked Madagascar vanilla, warm pound cake and butter cream, Spicy baked pears with star anise, freshly cracked black pepper."
Finish: "Striking sensation on the tip of the tongue and lingering on the back palate. Lasting richness of butter cream frosting, black pepper, and baked stone fruit jam. With a splash of water: Warm butter melted with clover honey over a buttermilk biscuit, freshly cut cedar, lasting finish of black pepper and baking spice."
