At age 29, Broken Barrel’s founder Seth Benhaim sourced his first barrels of bourbon from Owensboro, Kentucky to produce what would later become Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. The experiment involved sourcing used bourbon barrels, French oak barrels, and sherry casks from Spain – all to be used in the first ever Oak Bill (essentially a mashbill but for staves).
It was unsure how people would react to the concept of using different broken barrels staves to finish a bourbon whiskey. Back in 2017 and the looming eclipse and domination of every kind of barrel finished American whiskey had not quite come into full maturity.
Benhaim believed that there was a missed opportunity in traditional barrel finishing – namely the reliance on one type of barrel used to finish one type of whiskey. He wanted Broken Barrel to be an expansion of the barrel finishing concept, involving not only broken barrel staves (vs. intact barrels), but also the combination of multiple barrel types all finishing aged bourbon in tandem.
While the 115 proof Cask Strength Bourbon and 105 proof Heresy Rye are delicious, well-priced finished whiskeys that shouldn’t be looked over, one I wanted to specifically highlight is their Honey Smoke Reserva American Whiskey. Kentucky-distilled American Whiskey, bottled at 110 Proof with a 6-Year age statement. The whiskey has updated the Oak Bill from their previous release to blend both Honey Barrel staves with Texas Sotol barrel staves, providing one of the most unique spins on a honey-finished product that I’ve had.
Broken Barrel Honey Smoke Reserva
The pour is this beautiful weave of big creamy vanilla sweetness, delicate and slightly syrupy honey sweetness, and then this bright, almost tequila-leaning earthiness before well charred oak.
The finish is a mix of sweet and spicy smokiness.
Broken Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon
The nose is rich with vanilla custard and soft red berries off the bat.
Then palate pops with fresh oak and heavy dark berry compote before toasted vanilla and tingly, lingering peppercorn spices with trailing oak and leather.
The finish is the highlight, as the fruit notes saturate even deeper on the palate like a rich red wine, while oak and leather continue on with an even longer linger of dark maple syrup.
Broken Barrel Heresy Rye
The nose is caramel and vanilla forward candied rye spice with developing damp red fruits continuing to entice.
The palate mirrors the nose – heavy on the sweetness, with ginger, clove, and cinnamon edging through. While ripe melon and stone fruits may be present mid-palate, heavy brown sugar and sherry depth quickly overshadow.
The finish is long, sweetly spiced, and trailing with brown sugar, candied herbal notes, and charred oak.
