Trader Joe’s Barrel Entry Proof Limited Edition Bourbon Review
In-Depth Review
Trader Joe’s isn’t known for having an incredible house liquor brands. Better known for its bargain basement wine, a Trader Joe’s liquor shelf is often filled with full of non-age stated, 80 proof, white labeled whiskey that feels more bottom of their barrel leftovers than anything worth seeking. So when a Trader Joe’s limited-edition bourbon appears boasting a barrel entry proof of 125… it’s unusual moment indeed. And people take notice.
This Trader Joe’s Barrel Entry Proof example was released a few years ago to massive online hype. The internet clamored over its Rock Hills Farms type bottle, its distillate sourced from Sazerac (many claiming it had to be Buffalo Trace), its high proof, and reasonable $30 MSRP all led to overwhelming online hype. People sought these bottles out and would flip them for upwards of $150 on secondary. But was it ever really worth it? Only after a few years has the hype died down enough to actually find this sitting on a shelf. And after picking this up from my local Monrovia Trader Joe’s – I figured it was finally time to see if this truly was worthy of all that bourbon community hype.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 62.5%
Cask: Virgin Oak
MSRP: $30
Distillery Name: Non-Disclosed (Probably Barton)
Review Date: 12/15/23
Color: Aged Gold
Nose: Dipping your nose in the glass you’re immediately hit with a bright, vibrant, young grain note. It’s full of yellow corn, peanut brittle, Mexican vanilla, and honeycomb. It’s a sweet character that can feel almost artificial at times and is complimented by a healthy dose of ethanol. As it settles in the glass, notes of hay, sawdust, and chili pepper appear. I can’t shake that it feels imbalanced and youthful for my taste.
Palate: Just like the nose, the palate is bright and lively featuring notes of more young grain, toasted brown sugar, wood char, and a citric acid. There’s a flash of dark bitter chocolate, but that quickly gives way to more artificial vanilla and caramel. It drinks a bit hotter than 125 proof, and the heat can easily overpower some of that sweetness. At first, it feels closed off and tight, but after a few drops of water the palate gets immensely better with more cream, honey, light tobacco, cocoa puffs and softer wood.
Finish: Long finish that goes dark and bitter with a lot of wood influence. The tannic finish clings to the mouth can leaves you with black pepper, cheap leather, and sour cream.
Final Thoughts: When Trader Joe’s Barrel Entry Proof was first released, many thought it was Buffalo Trace secretly releasing an affordable and delicious bourbon. Fast forward to 2023, and after finally finding a bottle of this – I have to admit that this does not live up to all of that artificial hype. Both Benchmark Full Proof and Early Times Bottled-in-Bond are both better pours – and much more readily available. Where this Trader Joe’s expression falls short is on its youthful profile, it’s bitter finish, and a heat that just feels overwhelming to the other flavors. Only after a few drops of water does this bourbon come alive – but at that point, I am still left wondering why I would pick this over the Benchmark or Early Times. So, while this may not be the incredible sipper, it feels like its perfect home is in a killer cocktail. And while I may be in the minority here, even at $30 I feel there isn’t much value here.
