Bourbon Barrel Aged SBVL was made in collaboration with Chicago’s own More Brewing. Modeled after their Strawberry Banana Marbles brew.
We made this particular product back in 20’. It features strawberries, bananas, lactose, and vanilla beans. We then placed the product in a freshly emptied Blantons bourbon barrel for nearly 2 years.
What I love about both banana and strawberry meads is that they typically emerge from barrels much better than when they entered. I assume this has something to do with the additional tannins, woody vanillins and micro-oxidation you pick up during barrel aging.
As you might expect, the vanilla has faded ever so slightly over the past two years. I also think the lactose expresses itself less prominently. The strawberry and banana flavors on the other hand have certainly amplified. Moreover, we are noticing a trend in these meads that are going for extended aging. They are getting considerable ABV pickup. This one clocks in at a healthy 18%
