Barrell Bourbon Batch 21 has a big burst of sweetness that I might even consider a little unique. It’s honey and floral sweetness, tons of citrus, and this fruitiness in the middle of my tongue that comes after the first surge of honey and caramel. I can’t quite make it out yet, but it seems to be like a small spoonful of vanilla ice cream, followed by a growing underlying grass and oak note. It’s not quite the usual Dickel sweetness, but I can certainly tell that it’s there. The lower proof is also controlled. 

“Chewing” brings out more of the same flavors as before, and actually throws me a bit of a curveball that the nose doesn’t even remotely hint at having. There’s this unique and viscous sweetness of honey, toasted vanilla, peach, berries, grassy oak, cinnamon, and chocolate. This berry note pops right in the middle of my tongue, a note that I don’t often find in unfinished bourbon. It’s like whipped cream and vanilla icing on berries – a blueberry cream pie of sorts. While the berry cream pie flavors aren’t huge per se, it’s still a great melding of flavors that I enjoy discovering. Those berry cream flavors come forward a little more right as I swallow. The nose hints at this – I also find a light savory and sweet honey smoked ham flavor, and Barrell Bourbon Batch 21 keeps the heat in check.

Oakiness comes out more on the finish with honey, vanilla, bright fruitiness, and mint. The oak tannins continue to linger with licorice, dried orange, a dusting of cocoa powder, and even a little honey baked bread. “Chewing” leaves a lot of grassy oak with honey, cocoa, vanilla, and that berry cream pie sweetness that sticks to the edges of my tongue. Barrell Bourbon Batch 21 leaves more toasted rather than burnt oak tannins. Over time, the finish turns to honey, mint, and licorice with a grassy oakiness that continue to stick to my mouth. Batch 21 is certainly a flavorful and fantastic bourbon, but at no point does “bourbon of the year” cross my mind.