We were so head over heels in love with the George Dickel single barrel that we brought in last year that we went back and asked if they had any more barrels from that same run. Luckily for us (and all whiskey lovers), they did, and we jumped at the chance to recapture that magic! Like its sibling, this barrel was also bottled at the highest of several pre-determined proof points for these single barrels. And most importantly, it also balances the rich, aged oak influence that comes with almost 17 years in the barrel with a bright fruity side that is hard to find in old whiskey, much less a single barrel. (While Dickel waits at least 15 years before bottling these single barrel releases, and uses the same 15 Year label on all of them, they are bottled when the distillery feels they are fully mature, which can mean even older whiskey in the bottle.)

Distilled on May 5th, 2006 from a mash of 88% corn, 6% rye, and 6% malted barley, Barrel #06505-17415 was aged for 16 years and 10 months before bottling at 104.6 proof. The nose presents rich, sweet fruit punch scents of apple, grape, peach, and citrus with vanilla frosting, caramel, leather, and wet stone also present. The palate delivers sweet fruit as well with white grape, apple juice, candied peach, and sweet raisin before earthy oak, leather, and tobacco balance the sip. The finish leaves notes of apple cider, vanilla, leather, oak, and a touch of minerality.