The distinct character of a single barrel bourbon truly shines in Belle Meade's Straight Bourbon Single Barrel #9. This expression offers a refined balance of rich sweetness and peppery spice, culminating in a memorable and lingering finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Initial sweet notes of caramel and vanilla, reminiscent of Crème brûlée, are quickly followed by a pleasant warmth of baking spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of clove. Underlying these are dried dark fruits, like figs and dates, intertwined with a subtle oak presence and a faint suggestion of roasted nuts.

Palate: The entry is rich and full-bodied, delivering a concentrated burst of sweet corn and brown sugar. Mid-palate, a complex interplay of peppery spice develops, balancing the sweetness with notes of ginger and a touch of tobacco leaf. The single barrel character shines through with robust oak tannins, imparting hints of dark chocolate and espresso, yet remaining remarkably smooth despite the potential for high proof in a single barrel offering.

Finish: A long, lingering finish that slowly fades from robust spice to a comforting sweetness. Notes of toasted oak, caramel corn, and a surprising menthol coolness persist, leaving the palate clean but with a pleasant warmth and a delicate return of dried fruit and vanilla bean.