In 2019, one in all our favourite vodka producers, Infuse Spirits, branched into whiskey. The outcomes have been, nicely, not the perfect, and finally the road was scrapped and rebranded, with no point out of Infuse on the label in any respect. Lately, a revamped Damaged Barrel re-emerged on the scene and, given our fairly powerful evaluation of its unique releases, we have been stunned to see almost the whole lineup of the brand new whiskeys arrive on our doorstep — seven bottlings out of a complete of 9 at the moment in manufacturing. The whiskeys are older now — all billed as varied forms of straight whiskeys, although there are nonetheless no age statements — however (nearly) are nonetheless made at Inexperienced River (previously often called O.Z. Tyler). “Our whiskey matured together with the distillery,” says CEO Seth Benhaim.
Damaged Barrel’s lineup contains 4 core releases, two “reserve oak” bottlings, and three restricted editions — and doubtless extra to come back. Every thing is completed in a method or one other — the “damaged barrel” concept is that barrel staves are used for ending fairly than inserting the whiskey itself in ending casks — and proof varies fairly broadly.
Has three years turned a web page for Infuse and Damaged Barrel? Let’s discover out. Right here’s a have a look at (most of) the 2022 Damaged Barrel lineup.
Damaged Barrel Bourbon California Oak – 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% barley; completed with 80% cabernet sauvignon wine cask and 20% new French oak staves. This can be a tender, youthful, and fairly mild spirit, notes of peanut butter and a gentle baking spice ingredient kicking off the present. Buttery vanilla offers the nostril a sure pastry character. The palate can also be doughy however mild, peanut notes fading into brewed tea, nougat, and a dusting of cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper. Easygoing and approachable, however there’s no trace of crimson wine right here. 88 proof. B / $31
Damaged Barrel Bourbon Small Batch – 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% barley; completed with 40% bourbon barrels (which is odd), 40% new French oak, and 20% sherry cask staves. The extra aggressive, hotter nostril is agreeable, calmly spicy with notes of baking spice, ample crimson pepper, and a slug of vanilla. Chocolatey on the palate, with a standard composition of caramel corn, peanut shells, and a clove-heavy spice, this presents like an easy and easy bourbon, with no hint of the sherry stave affect. 95 proof. B / $31
Damaged Barrel Heresy Rye – 95% rye, 5% barley; completed with 40% bourbon barrels, 40% new French oak, and 20% sherry cask staves. Our first “repeat” of the previous Infuse line; this has the identical mashbill and title because the older product. It’s frankly a step down from the 2 bourbons, with a light-weight acetone aroma that’s muted by an aggressive sweetness. It’s additionally a bit beefy on the nostril, although once more tempered due to some spearmint notes within the combine. The palate’s sweetness feels a bit otherworldly, a ton of menthol giving the whiskey a top quality that blends Doublemint gum with Vick’s VapoRub. Scorching, with lingering petrol on the end. 105 proof. C+ / $34
Damaged Barrel Bourbon Cask Power – 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% barley; completed with 40% bourbon barrels, 40% new French oak, and 20% sherry cask staves. This can be a higher-proof model of the Small Batch Bourbon reviewed above. Acquainted aromas, although a stronger barrel char affect and a few chocolate are each evident. The additional warmth helps out the palate a bit, including a racy high quality to an in any other case peanut-popcorn heavy expertise, folding in layers of cinnamon and crimson pepper. It’s all very anticipated, very similar to the Small Batch itself, however the greater abv retains it from wandering off message. 115 proof. B+ / $44
Damaged Barrel Plank Walker American Whiskey 7 Years Previous – 85% corn, 15% rye; completed with 80% Barbadian rum cask and 20% French oak staves. That is at the very least one thing attention-grabbing, one of many few whiskeys within the BB lineup with an age assertion — and a single barrel launch, at that. Distilled in Indiana, not at Inexperienced River. A vastly totally different whiskey than what’s come earlier than — there’s a light-weight whiskey character right here, maybe — with a daring caramel corn assault on the nostril, backed up by enduring granary notes and a reasonably highly effective barrel char character. Maple and butterscotch cleared the path on the thick, cereal-driven palate — that is almost 60% abv — with brown sugar and honey notes not possible to shake because it builds, even with water. Purple pepper on the end, with extra caramel. Hold including extra water. 115.6 proof. B / $55
Damaged Barrel Uncommon Americana American Whiskey 7 Years Previous – 85% corn, 15% rye; completed with 75% Sauternes cask and 25% French oak staves. Identical inventory as above, with an uncommon end. Stunning depth of shade right here. Notes of espresso and darkish chocolate are intense on the nostril, with oxidized, nearly Port-like notes making me surprise if I’m actually ingesting the suitable whiskey or if someway this was mislabeled. Very popular on the palate, we’re at 60% abv right here. Once more, plenty of espresso, cocoa powder, and a mixture of crimson and black pepper. Some charcoal notes on the end are aggressive, however tempered by a contact of lemony, honeyed sweetness — the one actual signal of the Sauternes affect within the combine. Positively one of many extra attention-grabbing whiskeys within the lineup, although under no circumstances what I used to be anticipating. 120 proof. B+ / $70
Damaged Barrel The Wreckoner Wheat Whiskey 3 Years Previous – 85% wheat, 15% barley; completed with 80% Cognac cask and 20% French oak staves. Cognac-finished wheat whiskey, you say? At 60% abv? One other bruiser of a whiskey, this punches on the nostrils with its notes of peppery barrel char and floor espresso, although there’s some tempering sweetness right here to maintain issues leveled out, at the very least a bit. The palate is a scorcher and ample with char; I couldn’t presumably peg this as both wheat whiskey or Cognac-finished, although an excellent slug of water helps on each fronts. With water, the whiskey reveals itself as a bit grainy and chalky, however laced with notes of stone fruits and cherries; it’s actually the one method to eat this spirit. The end nonetheless stays sizzling and punchy, some mild brown sugar providing a respite from uncooked alcohol. It’s a curious bottling, however I’d bottle this at a a lot decrease abv to permit a number of the extra delicate traits come into focus. 120 proof. B / $90
Damaged Barrel Bourbon California Oak
$31
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