A few months back we introduced you to Old Route 8. Today, we are back with two of my favorite single barrels, both with great sweetness and oakiness.
Old Route 8 is one of my new favorite products on the market right now. Not just me, I’m seeing lots of folks in various circles with high praise for these barrels. Viscous, great age on the palate, and really hard to put down. It used to be the every day suggestion was Russell’s, but with that price now hitting near the $90 range, to me this product hits all the right notes but is currently under the radar. I thought they were tasty at the time of picking, but trying them again bottled really has me excited to get these into your hands. We’ll be releasing two at a time, and giving each a name to hopefully more easily sum up what you may experience in the glass.
Barrel #24 – Cheerwine Derby Pie – 126.4 proof
The nose leads with sweet oak and soft notes of leather before an array of vanilla and caramel sweetness.
The palate is explosive, you feel every bit of its 126.4 proof. Spicy, effervescent cherry cola and raisin mixed with big waves of oak and heavy doses of caramel with semi-sweet chocolates continuing on.
The finish is dense and lingering with tobacco, leather, dried cherry, raisin, pecan pie and sweet oak.
Barrel #25 – Tootsie – 125.4 proof
Creamy, silky, and indulgent. Deep inhales you find intense notes of barrel char, but otherwise the pocket is more honey, brown sugar, milk chocolate candy, and red fruits.
The palate is deceptively rich given the nose, but drinks so easy. Bright with fresh cherry pie and fruity leather, but continuing on with balanced baking spices, gobs of brown sugar and chewy sweet chocolate like a boozy Tootsie Roll.
The finish continues long and oaky, with tobacco, cherry, espresso, and more butterscotch sweetness the longer you sip.
