More to Enjoy
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Intro:
Distilled in KY, IN and TN, the Stellum line comes to us from the brainchild of Barrell Craft Spirits. The brand first launched in early 2021 and features some hefty age statements in the blend, despite a moderate to low price tag. Bottled at barrel proof, these $50 machines were set to take over the market. About 6 months later, the advent of Stellum Black is upon us - retailing for $99, limited in distribution and said to contain even older stocks. Like the original Stellum releases before it, this Black label carries no age statement. It's paired with a Rye as well. Let's dig in.
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Nose:
Huge maple hit on the nose. Baking spice, toffee, tobacco, pecan, oak. All spice, clove, dessert. Not too oaky.
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Taste:
Rich toffee on the palate, viscous and powerful, thick and decadent. This reminds me of those 15yr Knob Creek’s. Musty, lightly nutty, bold tobacco, pound cake, corn syrup and buttery pecan. Oh boy.
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Finish:
Long finish, dry and oaky with tons of backing spice, nougat, butterscotch and toffee.
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Overall:
This is a clear upgrade from standard Stellum, and manages to even surpass a number of Barrell's standard releases. I'm amazed how similar this drinks to really old Knob Creek, with complex tannin, tobacco and a decadent mouthfeel with a touch of peanut brittle.
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Score:
8
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Disclosure: The producer provided this sample to review free of charge, and without expectation of review or rating.
- Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources