An Ultra-Aged Canadian Offering From Barrell, And a Complex Aged Blend From New Riff

While we normally associate Barrel Craft Spirits with its bourbons, this Louisville-based blender sources its distillate from a total of 67 producers, including two distilleries from outside the U.S. Its latest release, Decade, is from Canada, and it's not the first Canadian offering from Barrell. In recent years, the company's Canadian repertoire has grown fairly substantially, and our previous reviews can be seen here. Also among this week's new releases is an American blend from New Riff, with corn whiskey comprising 28% of the mix. In total, this one is a blend of five whiskeys, and is available only to New Riff Whiskey Club, which anyone can join.

Barrell Decade Canadian

ABV: 71.35%
SRP: $199
Availability: 3,900 bottles

The releases in Barrell’s Black Label series demonstrate some of the blender’s oldest, most creative whiskies, and Decade is no different. Made in Canada but blended and bottled in Kentucky, the new whisky carries an age statement of 20 years; however, the liquid within is as old as 30, comprising blending components distilled each year from 1995 to 2005. Once blended, the whisky underwent secondary maturation in a combination of Spanish brandy and Hungarian oak casks. Given the whisky’s age, there is a fair amount of it available, with 3,900 bottles going nationwide. Decade can be found at retail and online at barrellbourbon.com. This is the fourth expression thus far in Barrell's Black Label Series, which launched last fall.

New Riff Headliner Blend

ABV: 55.5%
SRP: $150
Availability: New Riff Whiskey Club exclusive

For its second edition of Headliner, New Riff master distiller Brian Sprance blended five different whiskeys. Two 11 year olds—a corn whiskey (28% of the blend) and a bourbon (27%)—are from the distillery’s very first distillation runs, and make up the foundation of the blend. Rounding out the blend are a 10 year old Balboa rye (15%), 10 year old rye (15%), and 8 year old Aroostook malted rye (15%).

As with the inaugural Headliner release, this one supports local charities, with proceeds from each bottle sale going toward Brighton Center, an organization that helps individuals and families reach financial literacy and stability. Bottles will be available for New Riff Whiskey Club members on Friday, August 1, at 11 a.m.; the limit is 1 bottle per person, and bottles will be available for pickup at the distillery only. And in case it seems like a roadblock, the New Riff Whiskey Club is free to join.