Barrel Pick: Barrell Craft Spirits P.X. - I Love You

You’ve heard us extoll the virtues of Barrell Craft Spirits – most recently with our Stellum Vega barrel pick.  We’ve had a remarkable run of success picking from their impressive, if not unrivaled, stock of Bourbon.  Our last pick to bear the moniker Barrell was the ‘Archangel’ – and it’s one we continue to hear glowing reviews on.  We couldn’t let 2023 pass without another unique Bourbon from their inventory of slumbering brown water.

Earlier this year, our Team of Bottle Professionals sampled through a myriad of distinctive cask finished whiskey.  The shining star among them was a Pedro Ximenez finished Bourbon touting old age and that beautiful, sweet spice that only Sherry barrels can provide.  We pounced on this one the moment we sipped it.

For those unfamiliar with Pedro Ximenez (PX for short), it’s a grape variety used in the production of Spanish style dessert wine from Jerez, Spain.  The unctuous nectar produced in this style of wine marries perfectly to whiskey.  It’s long been adored in the aging of Single Malt Scotch and only a handful of Bourbon makers have gone full bore with implementing it’s use into their cask regimen.  Barrell Craft Spirits is among the thought leaders in this regard.

In our minds, if a whiskey were even to be walked past an old PX Cask it gets better, let alone a full finishing.  It registers at a full 124.54* and you’d never know it.  We dubbed this one “P.X. – I Love You” because that’s what you’ll be saying after your first sip. 

Our Tasting Notes ... Sweet aromas of baked apples, poached pears, roasted chestnuts, maraschino cherry, rum raisin, crumble cake, glazed & cider donuts.  The palate presents a viscous mouthfeel with an immediate explosiveness followed by a suave cascade of sweet fruit and warming spices.