Skip to main content

A Comparison of 3 New Batches of Barrel Strength Whiskey

Whiskey fans love to dissect their favorite releases, deciphering what flavors and aromas they can pick up on the nose and palate as they somberly consider just what makes the whiskey so good (or bad). And one especially fun way to do this is when whiskey is released in batches, from year to year or sometimes several times throughout the year. This way, you can really compare and contrast the difference between the casks selected to see how the differences in proof, age, and other factors affect your perception. And this is particularly when it comes to barrel proof whiskey, which truly captures the character of the liquid. Here are three recent barrel-proof whiskeys, each compared to its previous incarnation to see which comes out on top.

Templeton Rye

Templeton Rye
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The difference between the 2019 and 2020 editions of Templeton’s Barrel Proof Rye makes itself known with the first sip. The 2019 version of this 95% rye-sourced from MGP is slightly higher in proof — 115.8 compared to 2020’s 113.1. But the real difference is revealed on the palate. 2019 starts with a cherry blast, followed by big spice notes, with some cocoa to chase it down. 2020, on the other hand, is all about caramel and vanilla, with the baking spice flavors and even some menthol taking a supporting role. Overall, I found the 2020 to be the superior batch, with a slightly sweeter and softer palate and a silkier, more satisfying mouthfeel.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This bourbon is known for being pretty high ABV (and very high quality), but the first batch of 2020 (A120) is really intense at 136.6 proof. At this level, a little water goes a long way to unlock the flavors. Once you add a few drops, the nose explodes with stone fruit and chocolate, and rich plum and apricot collide with oak on the palate. The next batch (B520) is a bit more accessible at 127.2 proof, more along the lines of a strong batch of Booker’s. Butterscotch, vanilla, and some grape soda notes get even more intense after adding a little water. The verdict: Even though A120 is a happy slap in the face, the flavors are spot on and you can proof it down to the level you are comfortable with.

Larceny Barrel Proof

Larceny Barrel Proof
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This barrel-proof and non-chill filtered version was a long time coming for fans of this wheated bourbon from Heaven Hill. It’s aged for six to eight years, and the two batches released thus far (one more is on the way this year) are fairly easy drinking for cask strength whiskey. Batch A120 was bottled at 123.2 proof, and has long notes of vanilla and freshly cut grass, with a bright, grainy nose. Batch B520 is just slightly lower at 122.2 proof, and has a nose full of corn with similar sweet and grainy notes on the palate. Both of these are good versions of this beloved bourbon, but the trophy goes to the more recent B520, which edges out its predecessor with just a little more flavor and complexity.

Editors' Recommendations

Jonah Flicker
Jonah Flicker is a freelance writer who covers booze, travel, food, and lifestyle. His work has appeared in a variety of…
New Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Release Out in September
makers mark 2020 wood finishing limited release maker s 2

Last year, Maker's Mark released its first nationally available limited release edition of its Wood Finishing series, which joined the ranks of other wood stave-finished bourbons from the distillery like Maker's 46 and Private Selection. The bourbon had the arguably inartful name of Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6, based on the name of the staves that were placed in the barrel as part of the whiskey's finishing process. This September, the distillery is releasing the second edition, which rolls a bit easier off the tongue: Maker’s Mark 2020 Limited Release.

Two different staves were used for this year's bottling, the result of about a year's work with Independent Stave Company -- SE4, made from virgin French oak cooked at medium heat to bring out flavors of caramel, and PR5, made from virgin American oak and cooked slow and low to augment the vanilla notes.

Read more
Wild Turkey Releases Two New Limited Edition Whiskeys

Wild Turkey is one of those Kentucky whiskey brands that doesn't really need to expand its core lineup. After all, what it's known for is quality and affordability, two things that sometimes can be hard to find together. In other words, master distillers Eddie and Jimmy Russell can confidently rest on their laurels. But over the past few years expansion is exactly what the distillery has been doing, with the ultra premium Master's Keep series and additions to the Russell's Reserve brand. Now you can look for two more whiskeys with flags flying under the Wild Turkey banner, one from the aforementioned Master's Keep series, the other a new barrel-proof rye whiskey that is part of the Rare Breed lineup.

Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond is the fifth release under this banner of pricey, limited-release whiskeys. It's a 17-year-old bourbon, and the second Wild Turkey release to carry the BIB designation (the first was the 15-year-old American Spirit released over a decade ago, according to the brand). “With our own Master’s Keep Bottled In Bond, we took the historic process and protocol of aging for four years to the next level and allowed the liquid to rest for 17 years,” said Eddie Russell in a prepared statement. “We aged and perfected this rare, 17-year-old bourbon in Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson rickhouses. This expression is a nod to the past, both our own heritage and the heritage of American whiskey-making as a craft.” Per the BIB rules, the whiskey is bottled at 100 proof, at least four years old, and is the product of one distilling season from one distillery. It's rich and delicious, with a creamy mouthfeel and strong notes of tannin, cherry, chocolate, and prune on the palate. This bourbon was bottled just in time -- it might have gone south after another year or two in the barrel. But as it is, it's a winner. It's not cheap at $175 for a bottle, but for those willing to spend some cash on a high-quality, older-than-usual bourbon, it's certainly worth it.

Read more
Big Whiskey News: Brown-Forman Early Times is Sold to Sazerac
Whiskey in a glass

Early Times whiskey is celebrating its 160th year -- not a bad run for any brand -- but it was announced this week that Brown-Forman is selling the brand to Sazerac. Brown-Forman, which has owned Early Times since 1923, is unloading the whiskey brand along with Canadian brands Canadian Mist and Collingwood -- so it's possible that this deal is more about those than it is about Early Times. More people drink Early Times than you might think, as the brand claims that it is "the seventh-largest unflavored whiskey in the United States available in markets around the world."

“Early Times and Canadian Mist have been valued brands in our portfolio for many years, and they each have played significant roles in our company’s history,” said Lawson Whiting, president and CEO of Brown-Forman, in a prepared statement. “We are thankful to all the people who have distilled, bottled, shipped, marketed, and distributed these brands with care over the years.” Sazerac CEO and president also expressed his delight in acquiring what he called "iconic brands."

Read more