Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 Review

Barrell is the current king of blended bourbons and ryes, and this Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 continues their unapologetic reign. Is every single batch an outstanding, mind blowing experience? No. Is every batch at least tasty and fun? Yes. And that’s the real magic of Barrell.

When it comes to their bourbons and ryes you can pick up any release and know you’ll have something tasty in your glass. It’s become a very reliable brand that redefined its category and has become something I recommend to people regularly. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This is the legacy High West should have had, but they let it slip through their fingers.

That’s all I have for the intro, all the details about the Barrell 30 are below, so let’s get to drinkin’ and jump into this review.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Style: Blended Straight Whiskey (Bourbon)
Region: Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Wyoming, USA

Distillers: Various (likely Tennessee Distilling LTD, Heaven Hill, MGP and Wyoming Whiskey)
Blender: Barrell Craft Spirits
Mash Bill: At least 51% Corn + Rye + Wheat + Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: NAS (Blend of 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 15 yo bourbon)
ABV: 58.66%

Batch: 20
Bottle: 19,917

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 Price: $85*

Related Whiskeys

Barrell Bourbon Batch 024
Barrell Bourbon Batch 23
Barrell Bourbon Batch 022
Barrell Bourbon Batch 021
Barrell Bourbon Batch 19

White background tasting shot with the Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.

“Barrell Bourbon Batch 030 began with a group of tropical fruit forward 5-year-old Indiana barrels, a group of stone fruit forward 10-year-old high-rye Tennessee barrels, and a group of nutty 6, 9, 11, and 15-year-old barrels. After mingling separately for a month, they were carefully blended together. Finally, wheated bourbon from Kentucky and Wyoming was added to enhance the complexity of the blend.” – Barrell Craft Spirits

Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 Tasting Notes

EYE
Amber

NOSE
Fruit, cereal grain sweet, oak, baking spice, vanilla, lemon heads, slight hoppy herbaceousness.

This has to be the most unique Barrell Bourbon I’ve smelled yet. It’s not their typical oak-driven beast of whiskey, more light, herbal, fruity, candy sweet and almost floral.

PALATE
Dark candy sweetness, fruity sweetness, cereal grain sweetness, oak, caramel cupckes, vanilla, candied citrus and some earthy hay undertones.

Like the aroma, this is unique and atypical for Barrell and I need a minute to really process this.

FINISH
Medium-long -> Candy and cereal sweetness and spice fades to oaky dark sweets.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, medium-full body and a warm silken feel.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 – Overall Thoughts and Score

After several tastes, and a Basin Street, I can officially say I like this batch. It’s not what I’m used to getting from Barrell, it’s a bit atypical, but there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s kind of refreshing to not get an oak bomb and instead get something that’s a bit fruitier, a bit sweeter and a bit spicier. It keeps things from getting boring and predictable when they do a zig and we’re used to zags.

I’ll be honest though, it threw me for a bit of a loop when I didn’t get the oak monster I’m used to, and now I kinda want one, but that’s just me falling prey to the preconceived notions rattling around in my head. That’s on me, not them.

Circling back to the whiskey in my glass right now, I have no real complaints, it’s good. The sweetnesses, the spices, the whole thing just works and the balance is great as is the complexity; I feel like I’m picking up new nuances each time I visit the glass. Barrell Bourbon Batch 30 is a fun curveball I’ll definitely be coming back to.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

*Disclosure: The bottle for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.