Barrell Craft Spirits is about to light the fuse. On Thursday, February 12 at 10am ET, Barrell will release an 18-year “Hazmat” whiskey finished in Curacao barrels, and with only 216 bottles available, this one will disappear almost as fast as it was announced.
The price tag? $199.
The availability? Online only.
The intensity? Off the charts.
Let’s break this down.
The whiskey was initially matured for 10 years in used bourbon cooperage, developing the classic oak-driven structure and depth you’d expect from a long-aged American whiskey. In 2018, it was transferred into Curaçao barrels, where it spent an additional eight years absorbing citrus-laced character from the orange liqueur casks.
Yes, eight full years finishing in Curacao barrels. That’s not a quick secondary finish. That’s a full-blown transformation. Distilled in Indiana, aged for a total of 18 years, and then crafted and bottled in Kentucky, this release represents the kind of boundary-pushing maturation that Barrell has built its reputation on. And it’s bottled at cask strength “Hazmat” proof — meaning it exceeds 140 proof. This isn’t just bold. It’s explosive.
Barrell Craft Spirits describes it as a bold, full-bodied experience layered with:
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Bright, juicy fruit
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Vibrant citrus character
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Lively pepper
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Balanced spice
Given the extended Curacao finish, expect amplified notes of candied orange peel, marmalade, tropical brightness, and possibly even hints of bitter citrus oil playing against deep oak and mature spice. The hazmat proof will likely intensify everything, concentrating sweetness, heat, and structure into a dense, powerful pour.
This is not a beginner’s bottle. This is a slow-sipper built for seasoned palates.
We love when Barrell Craft Spirits swings big. An 18-year whiskey finished for eight years in Curaçao barrels is either going to be wildly brilliant or wildly bold — and honestly, that’s the fun of it.
At $199, this isn’t impulse-buy territory. But for collectors and high-proof chasers, 216 bottles makes this almost more of a lottery ticket than a retail drop. If you blink, you’ll miss it.
The extended finish is what makes this release fascinating. Most finishing experiments last months — maybe a couple years. Eight years is practically a second maturation life. That tells us this isn’t a gimmick. It’s a calculated risk. And Hazmat proof? That’s Barrell Craft Spirits saying, “We’re not watering this down for anyone.”
If you’re a fan of high-proof monsters, citrus-forward finished whiskeys, or rare limited drops that could become conversation pieces down the road, this one deserves your attention.
Set your alarms.
Because 216 bottles won’t last long.
