It was this past September that we last received a shipment of single barrel exclusives from George Dickel. While not technically bourbon, these Tennessee whiskeys immediately grabbed the attention of wheated bourbon fans — revealing much the same profile as the most coveted bottlings in this category, but without cracking the $50 mark. Sweet, rich, and high proofed, they are precisely what the discerning bourbon drinker is looking for. As we anticipated, they flew out the door, so we’ve gone back and secured three more barrels. This set is every bit as impressive as the first, and are truly astounding finds — especially when you consider their price-to-quality ratio. By their very nature, quantities are super limited, so don’t wait too long to pick up these exclusive stunners.

Another recent arrival is the truly stunning Balvenie “Peat Week.” An outlier in Balvenie’s portfolio, this bold and smoky concoction is not some clever marketing ploy, but a truly unique expression from a distillery that’s made its name with subtle and nuanced Scotches. Consistently one of our favorite annual releases, this year’s expression is heavenly. It is crafted in a way that will appeal to longtime Balvenie fans, as well as the most ardent followers of Ardbeg, which is to say, it shows the perfect amount of smoke without masking the underlying complexity for which Balvenie is so well known.

And for our gin aficionados, we have available the much-lauded Malacca from Tanqueray. This Old Tom style was an underground success when it was released in 1997 until its mothballing a few short years later. Thankfully, with the rise of interest in artisanal gins, Tanqueray decided to reintroduce their delightful take on Old Tom. Citrusy, fresh, and with a soft approach, it is perfect for anyone who is on the hunt for the perfect mixing gin that also drinks beautifully on its own.

EXCLUSIVE SINGLE CASK STUNNERS FROM DICKEL

When you talk to passionate bourbon drinkers today, most of them are looking for the rich, sweet, boldly flavored, high-proof editions that seem to have completely evaporated from today’s market. Part of the reason the Van Winkle expressions (and the Weller bourbons by default) became so beloved, besides the pull of pop culture, has to do with their sweeter profile due to the lack of rye grain in the mash bill as a balance. While not technically categorized as bourbon (even though it qualifies as such, Dickel goes by Tennessee whiskey), the distillery’s high corn, low rye mash of 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley results in a whiskey brimming with sweetness and lighter on the peppery and herbaceous elements. The only thing that’s ever kept Dickel from becoming the next big thing in the American whiskey scene is the low proof, but that’s where the company’s single barrel program comes in. Each K&L selected single cask of Dickel comes with a 9-year age statement and 51.5% ABV, dialing up the sweetness and sending serious bourbon fans into a frenzy.

George Dickel “K&L Exclusive” 9 Year Old Single Barrel #L8040K1007 Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) ($44.99)

Barrel K1007 is bold and spicy on the nose but big, sweet, and woody on the palate. This Tennessee Whiskey has the smooth finish you’d expect from its more famous cousin, bourbon.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 20, 2018

If you’ve loved the previous Dickel selections we’ve bottled, this is a worthy follow up. It’s big, bold, and spicy but with the classically smooth finish you want from Dickel. That spice is like you’ve mixed cinnamon and clove together with fresh saw dust. It’s beautiful and full and the perfect playmate for many different cocktails, especially those with a sweet vermouth.

George Dickel “K&L Exclusive” 9 Year Old Single Barrel #08D09F70415 Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) ($44.99)

Barrel 0415 is amazingly different from the majority of the Dickel barrels we have selected. There is a fruity component here that you just don’t often see in Bourbon (or Tennessee whiskey). In a way it seems to drink backwards from the other Dickel selections. It begins sweet, floral, and compels you to linger on the nose. The palate shows that signature smooth sweetness, and then Wham! the spice on the finish brings it all together.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 20, 2018

This is the most compelling of the Dickel Barrels to date. It’s noticeably different from anything else we’ve bottled before. While many single barrels are a riff on a theme, the nose here just jumps out as being wildly different. It’s fruity, intense, a bit floral, and is the kind of whiskey you’d be happy to nose all night long. The only problem with that plan is that it is so big, full, and rich on the palate that you’d be missing out on the sweet profile and long clean finish.

George Dickel “K&L Exclusive” 9 Year Old Single Barrel #L7233K1007 Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) ($44.99)

Barrel #1007 is the corniest of the bunch (in a good way) with lots of sweet grainy aromas and notes of buttered popcorn with baking spices on the palate. It’s never sweet or overtly rich, however, in spite of those characteristics. The finish is spicy and lively with hints of barrel char and rich oak that linger for minutes. It’s a whiskey for those looking for bourbon-like alternatives that still retain their favorite flavors.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 11, 2018

George Dickel is like your favorite musician. Any album they put out you just have to listen to because they’re all so damn good. This new barrel is no exception. It might be because I’ve been drinking so much of it that the twists and turns a new barrel brings stand out in interesting ways, but I think this is the best barrel of the season (and I’m afraid our last for a while). There is a darker caramel note here – almost fudge like. The wood spice takes a back seat to the sweetness of the corn itself. Endlessly smooth and still peppy at 103 proof, this is another home run.