Review of Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026

 

Good Lord, it is unbelievable how fast 2025 has raced by. Thanksgiving is here; I’ll be announcing my annual Whiskeyfellow Awards shortly after that; then it is Christmas, and before you even realize it, it will be 2026!

 

Each year since 2016, at about this time, the whiskey blending experts at Barrell Craft Spirits release their New Year Bourbon. It seems to encompass the various partner distilleries that Barrell works with, all placed in a single bottle.

 

“Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 is a celebratory release crafted to mark the arrival of a new year with an exceptional bourbon experience. This annual, small-batch blend unites a variety of bourbons—each with distinct ages, mash bills, and geographic origins from across the U.S.—resulting in a uniquely layered and complex American whiskey. A favorite among collectors, the New Year series showcases Barrell Craft Spirits’ mastery in blending and commitment to innovation.” – Barrell Craft Spirits

 

Bourbons from seven distilleries from around the country were used in Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 – Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wyoming. As always, Barrell doesn’t disclose who their partners are, but sometimes a bit of detective work reveals them. The individual components ranged in age from 5 to 13 years, and the final derived mashbill consisted of 74% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, and 1% wheat.

 

2026 marks the tenth anniversary of its New Year Bourbons, and I’ve tried each of them from 2023 forward. I loved 2023, I enjoyed 2024, and I didn’t care for 2025 (sorry, Barrell). How will the 2026 release hold up?

 

Thankfully, Barrell has provided me with a sample of it in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and taste how it fares.

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distillers:
• Indiana (Ross & Squibb/MGP)
• Kentucky (Undisclosed)
• Tennessee (George Dickel)
• Wyoming (Wyoming Whiskey)
• Maryland (Undisclosed)
• New York (Undisclosed)
• Ohio (Undisclosed)
• Age: All components are between 5 and 13 years old
• Kentucky Bourbon: 5, 6, & 10 years old
• Indiana Bourbon:   5, 6, 8, 11 & 13 years old
• Tennessee Bourbon: 8, 10, & 16 years old
• Wyoming Bourbon: 9 & 13 years old
• New York Bourbon: 5 years old
• Ohio Bourbon:  5 years old
• Maryland Bourbon: 7 & 8 years old
• Mashbill: 76% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, 1% wheat
• Cooperage: Undisclosed new, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 55.15% ABV (110.3°)
• Price per 750mL: $84.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore New Year 2026 neat. It appeared as goldenrod in color, forming a thick rim with bold, crazed tears.

 

Nose: I allowed the Bourbon to rest about 15 minutes prior to starting my sniffing journey. The aroma smelled of orange zest, cherries, toffee, leather, and charred oak. Drawing the air into my mouth revealed butterscotch. Color me intrigued at this point.

 

Palate: The texture of New Year 2026 was medium-bodied and creamy. There was a burst of cinnamon that shocked the palate. The front of my palate was met with flavors of caramel, vanilla cream, and almonds. Notes of older leather, cocoa, and maple syrup coated my mid-palate. I tasted cinnamon spice, charred oak, and clove on the back.  

 

Finish: Leather, cocoa, toasted almonds, cinnamon, and barrel char remained on my tongue and in my throat. It was pretty even, with only a very slight buildup of cinnamon, which left a warming sensation. The incredibly long duration ran 3:04.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: New Year 2026 drank five to ten points above its stated proof, yet it wasn’t anything that I’d describe as hot. Instead, I’d describe it as potent.

 

It is also a far more well-balanced Bourbon than last year’s, which I found relied too heavily on spice and herbal notes. The spice component was there, but it lacked any herbal qualities. It was a welcome change.

 

I truly enjoyed this sipping experience. To blend all of these Bourbons and come up with something amazing is an art form, and Joe Beatrice and his team at Barrell Craft Spirits are indeed talented artists. Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 earns every bit of my Bottle rating; I believe you’ll savor it, too. 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.