New Year is Barrell's annual limited edition, released once a year and never repeated, with each edition blended separately and bottled at its own cask strength. This is the 2020 release, bottled at 54.7 percent alcohol by volume, 109.4 proof, and individually numbered. Barrell Craft Spirits does not distil. It sources finished barrels from established distilleries, blends them, and bottles the result without dilution or chill filtration, and the New Year series is where the blending team puts its most considered work. Because each year's release draws on different barrels, the editions are genuinely distinct from one another rather than variations on a house recipe, which is why collectors track them by year and compare them side by side. The odd decimal proof is the evidence of the cask strength claim: nothing was added or taken away to reach a round number, and the whiskey went into the bottle at whatever strength the blend arrived at. What lands in the glass is a full bodied bourbon with real weight behind it. Expect caramel and brown sugar over toasted oak, with dark fruit, baking spice and a nutty depth from the older components, then a long warming finish carrying dry tannin and lingering sweetness. At just under 110 proof it is substantial without being punishing, which makes it more approachable than some of Barrell's higher strength releases. Drink it neat first, then add water in small increments and taste again, because it opens considerably.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
54.7% |
| Proof |
109.4 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Category |
Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys |
| Expression |
New Year, Cask Strength |
| Year |
2020 |
| Bottle Number |
Individually numbered |
| Bottling Strength |
Cask strength, edition specific |
| Age |
No age statement |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Producer |
Barrell Craft Spirits |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with a warm copper cast.
Nose: Caramel and brown sugar over toasted oak, with dark fruit, baking spice and a nutty depth behind.
Palate: Full bodied and weighty, carrying caramel, dried fruit and vanilla against dry oak and black pepper.
Finish: Long and warming, closing on tannic oak, spice and lingering sweetness.
FAQ
What proof is the 2020 New Year edition? 109.4 proof, or 54.7 percent alcohol by volume. Each annual edition is bottled at its own cask strength, so other years differ.
What is the New Year series? Barrell's annual limited edition, released once a year and never repeated. Each year's release is blended separately from different barrels, so the editions are genuinely distinct rather than variations on one recipe.
Is each bottle numbered? Yes. Every bottle carries an individual number alongside the year on the front label.
Does Barrell distil its own whiskey? No. Barrell Craft Spirits sources finished barrels from established distilleries and blends them, bottling at cask strength without dilution or chill filtration.
Why is the proof an odd number? Because nothing is added or removed. The whiskey is bottled at whatever strength the blend came to, which is why it reads 109.4 rather than a round figure.
Where can I buy Barrell Bourbon New Year 2020 online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
