Barrell Bourbon Batch 036 is one of those bottles that reminds me why I fell in love with American whiskey in the first place. For the uninitiated, Barrell Craft Spirits is a sourcing and blending operation — they don't distill their own liquid. Instead, they select barrels from undisclosed distilleries across Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana, then blend them to hit a specific flavour profile. Each batch is unique, numbered sequentially, and released at cask strength with no chill filtration. Batch 036 lands at a hefty 57.2% ABV, which tells you straight away this is bourbon that means business.
What makes Barrell interesting as a brand is the blending philosophy. Rather than chasing consistency like the big heritage distilleries, they chase character. Every batch is its own thing, and that's part of the appeal — you're buying a snapshot in time. The fact that Batch 036 is NAS (no age statement) shouldn't put you off. Barrell has built its reputation on the quality of the blend rather than leaning on a number on the label, and at cask strength you're getting the bourbon exactly as it came out of the barrel. No water added, no corners cut.
At 57.2%, this is not a sipper for beginners. That proof point is significant — in American whiskey terms, we're well above the legal minimum of 40% and pushing into territory where the alcohol can dominate if you're not careful. A few drops of water will open this up considerably, and I'd actually recommend it. Cask strength bourbon rewards patience. Let it sit in the glass for five minutes, add a splash, and come back to it. The difference is night and day.
The price point of £93.25 positions Batch 036 in the premium-but-not-silly range for a cask strength bourbon in the UK market. You're paying for the blending expertise and the full-proof experience. Compared to buying a single barrel pick from a named distillery at similar strength, it's competitive — and arguably more interesting because of the multi-barrel blend. There's complexity here that you won't get from a single source.
Tasting Notes
I'll be updating this section with detailed nose, palate, and finish notes after a proper session with this bottle. What I can say is that Barrell's house style across their bourbon batches tends toward rich, layered profiles with plenty of barrel influence. At this proof, expect intensity — this is bourbon that fills the room when you crack the seal.
The Verdict
Barrell Bourbon Batch 036 scores a 7.6 out of 10 from me. It's a genuinely well-constructed cask strength bourbon that delivers on its promise of intensity and character. The blending work is solid, the presentation is honest — full proof, non-chill filtered, transparent about what it is — and the drinking experience rewards anyone willing to spend a little time with it. It loses half a point for the NAS mystery factor and the fact that at this price, you're competing with some excellent age-stated bourbons. But as a showcase of what careful blending can achieve, Batch 036 earns its place on the shelf. This is a bottle I'd happily pour for someone who thinks they know bourbon and wants to be surprised.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn or a rocks glass with a few drops of water to tame that 57.2% heat. If you're in a cocktail mood, this is a spectacular base for an Old Fashioned — the cask strength means it stands up beautifully against the sugar and bitters without getting lost. Use a good demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura, and express an orange peel over the top. At this proof, you don't need to worry about the bourbon disappearing behind the other ingredients. It holds its own.
