Two More Dickels

You have to understand: when someone offers you nine year old single barrels of 100+ proof Bourbon that you can sell for around forty bucks, you say YES! You say yes as many times as they'll let you. You take as much of it as they'll sell you and you ask for seconds, thirds, fourths, and fifths. 

Sure, Dickel is Tennessee whiskey, not officially Bourbon, but there are plenty of people out there buying it independently and selling it as Bourbon (Belle Meade, Barrell, etc.) because technically it is Bourbon. Just don't tell that to anyone in Tennessee. 

Back to my original point: these single barrels of Dickel are older, richer, tastier, and sweeter than any whiskies available in any other distillery-direct single barrel program right now. Yet, somehow, they're around $20 less expensive per bottle than similarly-aged casks from Four Roses or the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. 

I dare you to do a comparison, side by side, of our latest Four Roses barrel with one of these two new arrivals from Dickel. I did it blind for fun this past week and I had a rough time figuring out which was which.

George Dickel "K&L Exclusive" 9 Year Old Single Barrel #L7233K1008" Tennessee Whiskey $44.99 -  Barrel #1008 is like a big bag of toasted caramel corn with power and intensity from the bold proof. Those who love the sweetness of classic Tennessee whiskey with the punch of cask strength Bourbon will be elated with a finish of sweet vanilla and hearty baking spices.

George Dickel "K&L Exclusive" 9 Year Old Single Barrel #L7234K1004" Tennessee Whiskey $44.99 - Barrel #1004 has strong aromas of herbaceous, peppery spices on the nose with heavy pencil shavings and toasted oak. It's decidedly less sweet than all of the other Dickel barrels we've featured in 2017 with a robust richness that finishes like a fine bottle of Four Roses. Basically, if you're looking for a 9 year old bottle of cask strength OBSV for $20 less per bottle, this is fine substitute. For serious Bourbon fans.

-David Driscoll