Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label Dovetail is the ultra-premium, cask-strength edition of Barrell's award-winning Dovetail, made from some of the blender's oldest and rarest stocks. It brings together whiskeys aged up to 25 years, finished in rum, port and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, and is bottled at a towering 140.18 proof.
Gold Label Dovetail uses the same finishing and blending method as the original Dovetail, but pushes every element further. The component whiskeys, distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada, were left in their finishing casks for longer, and Barrell included some very high-proof barrels to create a blend of exceptional power and layering. Each finish plays its part: port brings jammy fruit, rum adds molasses-like richness, and the Napa Valley cabernet barrels from Dunn Vineyards contribute dark fruit.
On the nose, Barrell describes white grapefruit and red currant, followed by stewed cherry, sarsaparilla and port-driven jam, with a bright, citric taste. At this strength, a little water goes a long way in unlocking it.
Released in November 2022 and bottled in Kentucky, Gold Label Dovetail is presented in a burgundy box with Barrell's gold shield label, signed and marked with its proof. It is a centrepiece for any serious whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: White grapefruit and red currant, with brown sugar and vanilla custard.
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Palate: Stewed cherry, sarsaparilla and port-driven jam, with peach and strawberry.
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Finish: Bright and citric, with lingering dark fruit.
Specifications
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Producer: Barrell Craft Spirits
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Style: Blended Whiskey, cask strength
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Expression / Batch: Gold Label Dovetail (2022)
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Age: Whiskeys aged up to 25 years
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Proof / ABV: 140.18 proof (70.09% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: Finished in rum, port and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon barrels
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Region: Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada; bottled in Kentucky
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
At over 140 proof, pour a small measure and add water a few drops at a time, tasting as you go; the fruit and spice open dramatically with dilution. A large ice cube also works. It pairs with dark chocolate, cherry desserts or a full-bodied cigar, and makes a remarkable gift for a cask-strength enthusiast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gold Label Dovetail finished in?
Rum, port and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon barrels.
How old are the whiskeys in it?
The blend includes whiskeys aged up to 25 years.
What proof is it?
It is bottled at cask strength, 140.18 proof or 70.09% ABV.
Explore more in our American Whiskey collection.
