In our younger lives, Mrs. Bourbon Bossman and I were quite fans of sweet wine. Unfortunately, age and wine tannins caught up with us both and our days of indulging this spirit have dwindled. Nonetheless, I will still occasionally buy a bottle of ice wine and when this bottle of bourbon was announced, I was ecstatic to try it. Today’s review comes from the Barrell Craft Spirits and is Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Ice Wine.

Bottle Information

From the Barrell Craft Spirits website: To make an exceptional ice wine, optimal conditions and great care throughout the entire winemaking process are required. The BCS blending team took the same meticulous approach in carefully selecting barrels and creating a blend of mashbills and ages to harmonize with the intense sweetness, rich texture, and lively acidity of the ice wine. The resulting bourbon is bright and complex, with a rich body and notes of stone fruit and white chocolate.

An engaging nose with floral and fruity notes that coalesce with beeswax, ginger and white chocolate. Lively notes of warm honey bread, white pepper and golden raisin strike the palate followed by nutty baked goods with white chocolate, apricot, affogato and a touch of coconut.

• Distiller: Bottled by Barrell Craft Spirits
• Mash Bill: 71% Corn, 24% Rye, 4% Malted Barley, and 1% Wheat
• Proof: 106.52
• Age: 5 (Indiana: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 11 Years Old/Kentucky: 5 & 8 Years Old/Tennessee: 9 & 15 Years Old/Wyoming: 9 Years Old)
• Year: 2024
• MSRP: $84
• 2025 National Average: $100
• Official Website

Unfortunately, most of the series bottles from Barrell Craft Spirits are nearly impossible to find in the NoCo area. Thankfully, every once in a while a single bottle, like this one, will pop up on a random shelf. Overall, I did not know what to expect with this release, but this is quite good. With a foundation of traditional bourbon notes, this bottle also includes delicate notes of honey, strawberry, and rye spice that any bourbon enthusiast would enjoy. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Ripe Melon, Brown Sugar, Honey, Caramel, and Strawberry
• Palate: Honey, Rye Spice, Vanilla, Strawberry, Brown Sugar, and Toasted Oak
• Finish: Long with Lasting Notes of Rye Spice, Dry Oak, and Honey
• My Rating: Drink It! (Dang… I did not know what to expect, but this is quite good!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman®