Review: Barrell Bourbon Cigar Blend

Barrell Bourbon is back once again with another addition to its ever-growing Limited Edition lineup. On the heels of the second Red Label Series release, we’re getting an entirely new offering, Cigar Blend. It may be new to the Barrell portfolio, but “cigar blend” bourbons aren’t exactly cutting edge. A bourbon designed specifically to pair well with a cigar has been with us for a while now, blended into existence by renowned whiskey-maker Nancy “The Nose” Fraley for the Joseph Magnus brand way back in 2016. Since that time, we’ve personally encountered several examples of the cigar blend style, most sticking to Nancy’s original formulation of well-aged bourbon finished in exotic casks that previously held more traditional cigar accompanying tipples like fortified wine or brandy.

To probably no one’s surprise, Barrell’s take on the cigar blend is a little more elaborate than traditional recipes. Their faithful trifecta of base bourbons sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee have been aged between 7.5 years and a whopping 18-years-old. That mature blend was then finished in Armagnac casks, a classic ingredient in other cigar blends. But that’s just one of four different finishing casks. Madeira, rum, and Hungarian oak have also been used for finishing, although for how long remains a mystery (as with most of Barrell’s recent finished whiskey releases). Let’s crack into the humidor and see how the final product turned out.

Barrell Bourbon Cigar Blend Review

Give this one plenty of time to open because the aroma really puts on a show. An initial, concentrated caramelized sugar note unfurls into old leather, furniture polish, and damp tobacco all enrobed in silky caramel and toffee. It’s a bold first impression, not quite classic rancio with nutty undertones and silky sweet top notes. With a little more time, a fruity edge comes into focus, first fig preserves then black cherry and finally sticky dates with a hint of expressed orange peel. There’s plenty of oak in the mix, but it’s never sharp or overly exotic, delivering a warm foundation of sweet sawdust, cigar box, and milk chocolate.

The palate is lush, almost creamy, delivering the kind of full-bodied sip you’d expect from something intended to accompany a cigar. That’s in no way a requirement, however, as the complexity here is nuanced, not performative, with Demerara syrup and pecan pralines leading the way into a slightly raisinated midpalate of grape must, dried cherries, and sultanas. Big barrel notes build across the sip with cocoa nibs, coffee grounds, and barrel char layering on plenty of dry tannin that comes ever-so-close to overpowering the softer, sweeter elements. A wave of earthy spice – clove and cardamom and ginger – settles over the finish, supplanting the initial sweetness with a warm, peppery fadeout of leather, burnt sugar, and chocolate-covered espresso beans.

The elaborate finishing has added layers of flavor to this whiskey, but it’s perhaps even more memorable for the rich, palate-coating mouthfeel. That said, Barrell has woven things together so well here that a big cigar would likely obscure a lot of that impressive complexity. Most will likely enjoy this on its own, which is probably for the best, but those reaching into the humidor should choose their stick carefully.

111.2 proof.

A- / $85

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