Barrell Dovetail Toasted Whiskey Review

 

Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS) is one of the more consistently excellent blenders around. That’s not to suggest it is perfect at what it does, but if you were going to take a chance and risk purchasing a bottle without knowing anything about it, you’d likely be on the winning side of that bet.

 

While the art of blending isn’t simple, BCS makes things less complicated. Almost everything it produces is barrel-proof (except Barrell Foundation). If you think something is too strong, you can change it up by adding water. That’s on you; BCS won’t do that on your behalf.

 

BCS has just introduced its Black Label Series, a concept that re-examines the brand’s roots. Back in 2020, I reviewed the original Dovetail. I loved every bit of it. So, imagine my excitement when Dovetail was chosen for this new series. They call it Dovetail Toasted.

 

“This limited edition expression reimagines out award-winning Barrell Dovetail with an elevated dimension. Our signature blend - finished in structured California Cabernet, indulgent Port, and funky Rum casks - was further refined with 33 months of secondary maturation in toasted American oak, drawing out layers of caramelized sugar, warm spice, and rich oak. The result is a more decadent evolution of Dovetail – complex, opulent, and exquisitely polished.” – Barrell Craft Spirits

 

Dovetail Toasted starts as a 10-year, undisclosed Indiana-sourced whiskey and an 11-year, undisclosed Tennessee-sourced Bourbon. BCS then blended those before initiating the first finishing cycle. It is a limited-edition whiskey available for purchase from BarrellBourbon.com or from select retailers.

 

Is my admitted excitement over this #DrinkCurious opportunity warranted? BCS was kind enough to provide me with a sample of Dovetail Toasted in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s get that started.

 

• Whiskey Type: American Whiskey
• Distiller(s): Undisclosed Indiana and Tennessee distilleries (assumed Ross & Squibb/MGP and Cascade Hollow/Dickel, respectively)
• Age: NAS (10 years from Indiana and 11 years from Tennessee)
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: Finished in Rum, Port, and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet barrels, then a second finishing cycle in toasted American oak
• Alcohol Content: 61.9% ABV (123.8°)
• Price per 750mL: $199.99
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. It presented as a definitive orange amber, with a very fragile rim that discharged slow, crazed tears.

 

Nose: After about 15 minutes, I began delving into the aroma, which included notes of molasses, vanilla bean, honey, caramel, and soft oak. I had expected more intense wood, so that threw me off. My olfactory sense also picked out figs and plums. When I brought the vapor to my mouth, the rum-barrel influence was unmistakable.

 

Palate: Dovetail Toasted’s texture was thin and very oily. The palate shock was very much like warm Brandy. With my second sip, I was able to nail things down. The front featured notes of dried figs, ripe plums, and cherries. My mid-palate encountered fresh leather, pipe tobacco, and hazelnuts. I tasted toasted coconut, dark chocolate, and caramel on the back.

 

Finish: It wasn’t until after I swallowed for oak to come into the picture. Similar to the nosing experience, I had anticipated a more substantial influence. The coconut and dark chocolate quickly overwhelmed the oak, and were joined by plums and cherries.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Dovetail Toasted was, in a word, delectable. I might classify it as a dessert whiskey. It was sweet with fruit, and then there was a Mounds candy-bar quality to it. Although there was an alcohol punch on the palate shock, Dovetail Toasted went down way too easily. Considering its stated proof, getting schnockered would be effortless if you didn’t pace yourself.

 

I loved every moment of this sipping experience. Some whiskeys are so enjoyable, you really don’t care how much they cost. Dovetail Toasted falls into that category. In fact, this may be my favorite release from BCS - ever. My Bottle rating is warranted; if there were something higher, it would take that. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.