Barrell Rye Whiskey Batch 004 American Rye Whiskey

Priscilla Nunes — Solid sipper, not cheap though

8/10

At £93 it's not an everyday pour, but Batch 004 earns its price tag. Neat, you get this lovely mix of rye spice and dark fruit with a long peppery finish. I keep reaching for it over some bottles that cost more, which says a lot.

Isla McCallister — Solid sipper, not cheap though

8/10

At £93 it's not an everyday pour, but Batch 004 earns its price tag. Neat, you get this lovely mix of rye spice and dark fruit with a long peppery finish. I keep reaching for it over some bottles that cost more, which says a lot.

Yuki Nakamura — Solid sipper, not cheap though

8/10

At £93 it's not an everyday pour, but Batch 004 earns its price tag. Neat, you get this lovely mix of rye spice and dark fruit with a long peppery finish. I keep reaching for it over some bottles that cost more, which says a lot.

Ayako Hirano — Punches well above average

8/10

Barrell consistently puts out interesting batches and this one is no exception. Got a ton of baking spice on the nose, then rich caramel and dried cherry on the palate. The finish goes on forever with that classic rye tingle. I drink mine neat and let it sit in the glass for ten minutes before the first sip.

Olivia Wong — Punches well above average

8/10

Barrell consistently puts out interesting batches and this one is no exception. Got a ton of baking spice on the nose, then rich caramel and dried cherry on the palate. The finish goes on forever with that classic rye tingle. I drink mine neat and let it sit in the glass for ten minutes before the first sip.

Tyler Bennet — Punches well above average

8/10

Barrell consistently puts out interesting batches and this one is no exception. Got a ton of baking spice on the nose, then rich caramel and dried cherry on the palate. The finish goes on forever with that classic rye tingle. I drink mine neat and let it sit in the glass for ten minutes before the first sip.

Camila Ortiz — Very good, not quite great

7/10

Picked this up after hearing great things about Barrell's batching program. It's a well-made rye with nice spice and some sweetness underneath, but at £93 I expected something a bit more distinctive. The finish is probably the best part — long and warming with cinnamon and oak. I'd buy it again on sale.

Zoe Chen — Very good, not quite great

7/10

Picked this up after hearing great things about Barrell's batching program. It's a well-made rye with nice spice and some sweetness underneath, but at £93 I expected something a bit more distinctive. The finish is probably the best part — long and warming with cinnamon and oak. I'd buy it again on sale.

Marco Andretti — Very good, not quite great

7/10

Picked this up after hearing great things about Barrell's batching program. It's a well-made rye with nice spice and some sweetness underneath, but at £93 I expected something a bit more distinctive. The finish is probably the best part — long and warming with cinnamon and oak. I'd buy it again on sale.

Rafael Santos — Barrel proof rye done right

9/10

This is what I want from a cask strength rye — big, spicy, and unapologetic at 57.8%. The nose hits you with baking spice and dried herbs, and the palate delivers waves of cinnamon, black pepper, and caramel. Added a few drops of water and it opened up beautifully. One of the better barrel-proof ryes I've had this year.

Tariq Hassan — Barrel proof rye done right

9/10

This is what I want from a cask strength rye — big, spicy, and unapologetic at 57.8%. The nose hits you with baking spice and dried herbs, and the palate delivers waves of cinnamon, black pepper, and caramel. Added a few drops of water and it opened up beautifully. One of the better barrel-proof ryes I've had this year.

Jorge Castillo — Barrel proof rye done right

9/10

This is what I want from a cask strength rye — big, spicy, and unapologetic at 57.8%. The nose hits you with baking spice and dried herbs, and the palate delivers waves of cinnamon, black pepper, and caramel. Added a few drops of water and it opened up beautifully. One of the better barrel-proof ryes I've had this year.

Felix Moreau — Good but the proof is a lot

7/10

I wanted to love this more than I did. The flavours are all there — rye spice, toffee, a hint of mint — but at 57.8% it runs pretty hot even for a barrel proof fan like me. On the rocks it mellows out nicely and becomes a much better drink. Decent but I think there are better options at this price point.

Adaobi Eze — Good but the proof is a lot

7/10

I wanted to love this more than I did. The flavours are all there — rye spice, toffee, a hint of mint — but at 57.8% it runs pretty hot even for a barrel proof fan like me. On the rocks it mellows out nicely and becomes a much better drink. Decent but I think there are better options at this price point.

Grace Kim — Good but the proof is a lot

7/10

I wanted to love this more than I did. The flavours are all there — rye spice, toffee, a hint of mint — but at 57.8% it runs pretty hot even for a barrel proof fan like me. On the rocks it mellows out nicely and becomes a much better drink. Decent but I think there are better options at this price point.

Priya Sharma — My new favourite rye

9/10

Bought this on a whim and it immediately became a top shelf staple. The complexity here is fantastic — black pepper, vanilla, toasted oak, and a subtle nuttiness I wasn't expecting. That 57.8% ABV carries all the flavour without being punishing. Already looking for a backup bottle.

Olivia Park — My new favourite rye

9/10

Bought this on a whim and it immediately became a top shelf staple. The complexity here is fantastic — black pepper, vanilla, toasted oak, and a subtle nuttiness I wasn't expecting. That 57.8% ABV carries all the flavour without being punishing. Already looking for a backup bottle.

Aria Kim — My new favourite rye

9/10

Bought this on a whim and it immediately became a top shelf staple. The complexity here is fantastic — black pepper, vanilla, toasted oak, and a subtle nuttiness I wasn't expecting. That 57.8% ABV carries all the flavour without being punishing. Already looking for a backup bottle.