“Autumn is a second spring when each leaf is a flower” – Albert Camus
Tright here’s one thing that I’d like to handle upfront. The notion surrounding Stellum, when it was initially introduced by Barrell Craft Spirits, was that it was meant to be the worth model of their portfolio. I’ve beforehand written about Barrell Bourbon; particularly, I famous that one of many causes I tended to miss the model was its value level. The inaugural releases from Stellum – their cask energy bourbon and rye – had been priced at $55 and appeared to immediately counter this criticism.
Nevertheless, because the model has grown we’ve seen them introduce a single barrel lineup and now Stellum Black which is meant to characteristic their restricted launch premium expressions. Barrell Craft Spirits has loved a profitable run replete with important acclaim, and although Stellum remains to be trying to duplicate the recognition of its huge brother, I might think about they are going to get there. Admittedly, $100 for a restricted launch does symbolize a price possibility in in the present day’s market, but it surely does make one surprise: how completely different are the 2 manufacturers?
With primarily the identical ethos of showcasing Joe Beatrice and Cos mixing acumen, it appears the one actual distinction between them is the worth level (Barrell has launched restricted editions as much as $500+) and, I assume, the inventory of barrels that go into every model. One can surmise that Stellum is utilizing barrels with a decrease age assertion and/or a barely completely different taste profile to create a degree of distinction. To date, I see nothing improper with any of the above, however I’m curious to know simply how completely different is a $100 Stellum Black expression in comparison with your extra normal fare $80 Barrell Cask Power Bourbon expression?
It’s with this in thoughts that I made a decision in the present day to evaluate Stellum Black’s Equinox Mix #1, their second bourbon launch beneath the Stellum Black label. Like the vast majority of the bottles beneath the Stellum (and Barrell Craft Spirits) identify this Equinox Mix #1 is comprised of barrels sourced from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The model says, “For Stellum Black, we maintained the soul of Stellum whereas creating a brand new dimension of taste by including reserve barrels from our shares,” which would appear to provide credence to the concept that these are a number of the extra distinctive casks dedicated to the Stellum model, although we don’t actually know what makes this inventory of barrels completely different from these dedicated to Barrel Bourbon.
Irrespective of, that is clearly not the primary diffusion model to be made up of the identical inventory of barrels as one other lineup in an organization’s portfolio. Probably the most well-known instance, after all, can be the truth that barrels which wind up the Pappy Van Winkle lineup are additionally a number of the similar barrels that find yourself within the Weller lineup of bourbons. Examples abound of firms cherry selecting sure barrels or designating sure areas of their rickhouse for explicit expressions; I might solely say right here that I’d wish to see a little bit extra transparency about what precisely differentiates Stellum bourbon from Barrell bourbon and Stellum Black from Stellum normal.
With that gripe out of the way in which let’s get all the way down to the brass tacks, lets? For this restricted launch we’re informed, “the Equinox Mix was created utilizing Stellum Bourbon. The crew slowly layered in uncommon units of bourbon barrels, step-by-step, till the night of the Vernal Equinox, when the mix was accomplished in honor of the altering seasons and bottled at cask energy.” This, after all, doesn’t supply a lot perception into why the Vernal Equinox was chosen. There’s no point out of its significance to style, aroma, or any of the events concerned and we’re left to understand at some specious relation to the model’s identify – Stellum – which is a by-product of the Latin phrase “stella” which means star. Once more, that is of no actual concern, although once more I would like a little bit of perception into the thought course of.
What issues above all is how does this expression style? Priced at $100 and clocking in at 117.26 proof (58.63% ABV) with an undisclosed mashbill, made up of barrels sourced from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee in undisclosed proportions, and carrying no age assertion we’re left a bit at nighttime on the small print of this launch. Nevertheless, if we’re to make use of style as our North Star then there’s just one factor left to do…
Stellum Black Equinox Mix #1 – Evaluation
Coloration: Flaxen gold.
On the nostril: Cantaloupe and lychee with cardamom, clove, honeyed pie crust, and a faint little bit of peanut shell waft out of the glass at first. Quickly there’s a slight contact of hazelnut and cocoa powder and a good little bit of rye spice begins to emerge as effectively. It’s a pleasant effectively rounded nostril. Increasingly caramel comes out with airtime together with an uptick in leather-based and candy oak which I relatively get pleasure from.
Within the mouth: Lychee and rye spice run roughshod at first up the center of the palate. There’s a satisfying rye sizzle that runs a hoop across the tongue. Cocoa powder types on the again of the palate and creeps up the roof of the mouth quickly thereafter. An oak word that begins a little bit bitter develops properly right into a sweeter taste on repeat sips because the leather-based from the nostril begins to blossom as effectively. Given a little bit extra time I get a touch of pound cake and even some faint crimson berry notes. Total it is a tasty pour.
Conclusions:
Nicely, I actually had my doubts concerning the “why” behind this mix however I’ve little or no about the truth that it’s in the end a winner. Whereas it’s barely much less nuanced than Barrell Bourbon batch 32, it affords a considerably completely different taste profile and in my view a much more effectively rounded expertise. The aroma is intriguing, the palate has gobs of flavorful notes, and at a pocket-friendly value level in in the present day’s market the place “restricted editions” are involved, I feel that is an expression effectively value your consideration. That is simply the perfect bourbon I’ve tried thus far from Stellum, and I personally loved it greater than the vast majority of Barrell Bourbon choices I’ve tried as effectively. If this represents Barrell Craft Spirits’ second spring, so to talk, then I can simply see myself falling for it because of the standard craftsmanship, affordable value, and relative availability.
