Rich caramel | Vanilla extract | Aged oak | Black cherry | Cola | Excellent

Rich black cherry | Black raspberries | Plum | Thick vanilla | Charred oak | Rich & robust

Black cherry | Vanilla bean maple syrup | Aged, slightly tannic oak | Touch of leather | Dash of pepper

There continues to be a wealth of 13 year old bourbon available on the market and here is yet another. Blue Run is following their own 13 Year Bourbon release with a series of ten 13.5 year old single barrels. Barrel #5 continues the high point of their previous release set, impressing with a 130 proof black cherry bomb.

On the back of a traditional bourbon flavor profile of vanilla, caramel, and oak, Barrel #5 greatly intensifies the flavors. Where their previous release sought elegance and layers of depth, Barrel #5’s impressive 130 proof is potently robust. Its vanilla, caramel, and oak notes make an impact and are joined by a dark cherry component, forming a cask strength bourbon that gets so much right. Its price and availability will most likely be a thorn in anyone’s side looking for a bottle, but at least in this case, the bourbon backs up the cost (and work involved) in obtaining one.