The first thing that hit me—before the cork was even halfway out—was that warm, dessert-shop aroma Barrell Dovetail always brings. This stuff is finished in rum, port, and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet barrels, so you already know you’re stepping outside the boundaries of “traditional bourbon.” Dovetail doesn’t care about tradition—it cares about flavor.
And at 124.7 proof, trust me, you’ll know it.
I poured just a couple ounces into a Glencairn and held it up to the kitchen lights. That deep amber color looked like a Lake Michigan sunset in September—bold, warm, and slightly dramatic in the best way.
Nose
Right away:
- Dark fruit
- Toasted sugar
- A little rum funk
- Vanilla and oak weaving through the background
It smells like someone took dessert, a lumberyard, and a Caribbean vacation and somehow made it work.
First Sip
It hits big—like a rugby tackle—but smooths out quickly. Thick, warm, and full of flavor. Rum sweetness comes first, followed by that port richness, and then the Cabernet finish brings in this dry, tannin edge that actually pulls everything together.
Flavors I got:
- Caramel
- Ripe plum
- Molasses
- Toasted oak
- Spice heat that creeps in late
The finish went on longer than last winter.
Price & Value
At $84.96, it’s not a “grab three bottles for the bonfire” whiskey, but it is worth the money. Especially when so many $70–$90 bottles are nothing but marketing and wishful thinking.
Dovetail tastes like the money.
Where It Fits
I’d reach for this when:
- It’s been a long day
- I’ve earned something with flavor
- Friends who actually like whiskey stop by
- I want dessert without eating dessert
This is not a daily drinker—unless your daily routine involves yacht fuel.
Comparison
In flavor style, it sits somewhere between:
- Angel’s Envy Cask Strength
- A rum-finished Redbreast
- A bold port-finished bourbon like Belle Meade Reserve
But Dovetail is more layered than most bottles in its category. It owns its weirdness, and I respect that.
Honesty Time
If you don’t like finished bourbons, you’ll hate this.
If you want simple bourbon vanilla-oak-caramel, this is not your bottle.
If you want complexity, power, and a little chaos, this is absolutely your lane.
To me, it punched above its weight last night.
Would I Buy It Again?
Yes—though not every week. This is a special-occasion bottle for me. A reward bottle. A “Jeff, you survived another Thursday” bottle.
