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Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 is a cask-strength blend of straight bourbons from seven states—uniting multiple mash bills and age statements to deliver a bold, complex whiskey perfect for toasting the New Year. This annual release showcases Barrell Craft Spirits’ expert blending and has become a collector favorite. |
Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 is an annual limited-edition release that celebrates the turning of the calendar with a new, expertly blended cask strength bourbon.
This edition combines straight bourbon whiskeys from Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wyoming, Maryland, New York, and Ohio. Each component was selected for its unique character, with age statements ranging from 5 to 16 years old. The result is a layered, high-proof bourbon that balances freshness and richness with a deep, spice-forward finish.
Image Source: Barrell Craft Spirits
The 2026 New Year release is a small batch blend made with bourbons of different ages, mash bills, and origins, designed to highlight contrast and complexity.
This blend includes:
Indiana Bourbon (5, 6, 8, 11, & 13 years)
Kentucky Bourbon (5, 6, & 10 years)
Tennessee Bourbon (8, 10, & 16 years)
Wyoming Bourbon (9 & 13 years)
Maryland Bourbon (7 & 8 years)
New York and Ohio Bourbons (5 years)
All together, this creates a final derived mash bill of 74% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, and 1% wheat—bottled at 110.3 proof without chill filtration.
Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 offers a fresh yet mature flavor profile, with fruit, spice, and earthy sweetness.
Neat Tasting Notes
Appearance: Graham cracker
Nose: Ripe stone fruits (white peach, Rainier cherry), sugar snap pea, dill, wintergreen, and maple sap
Palate: Tart apple, Meyer lemon, oatmeal, pumpkin bread, molasses, and clove
Finish: Pumpkin pie, baking spices, sunflower seed, red clover, roasted chestnut
With Water
Spring water brings out floral notes like rose and lilac, with absinthe-like herbal layers of tarragon and fennel seed.
This release is one of the most diverse small batch bourbons Barrell Craft Spirits produces each year.
What sets it apart is not just its multi-state blend or its 110.3 cask strength proof, but the balance Barrell achieves across young, fruit-forward notes and older, oak-driven depth. This whiskey doesn’t lean too heavily in one direction—it brings many voices to the table and lets them all speak.
Fans of expertly blended bourbons like Barrell’s New Year should check out Three Chord’s RIOT. Double Bonded Rye; a dual Bottled-in-Bond blend that brings music, muscle, and a riotous finish.
Whiskey media outlets have already praised this year’s release for its complexity, seasonal flavor, and collectibility.
Robb Report: “Don’t wait to try this until the ball drops.”
Inside Hook: “A complex and layered expression… notes of graham cracker, vanilla, red berries, nutmeg.”
Forbes: “Save yourself a pour for December 31 when the clock strikes midnight.”
If you’re a fan of bold, cask-strength American bourbon or appreciate thoughtful blending, this bottle belongs in your rotation.
Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026 is perfect for New Year’s Eve, but it’s also an excellent pour to revisit year-round. At around $90–100 retail, it’s a worthwhile addition for those who love discovering what’s possible through blending.
From limited-edition releases to everyday standouts, our Whiskey Wednesday series brings you a new whiskey to explore each week. Always worth a spot on your shelf!
Check out our most recent Holiday drops:
12/17/25 New Riff Winter Whiskey: A Bottled‑in‑Bond Bourbon for Cold Weather
12/10/25 Duck Club™ Bourbon: Built for Outdoorsmen, Backed by Riley Green
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