Nashville Barrel Company 5 Years Old "Silver Medalists 2021" Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This Nashville Barrel Company 5 Year “Silver Medalists 2021” bottle doesn’t need a big age statement to explain itself. The glass does that in a hurry. Built from a single barrel of 5-year straight bourbon selected for its 2021 competition hardware, it’s bottled at barrel proof of 115.54.

Young on paper, sure, but the oak and grain feel far more seasoned than the number suggests.

The nose kicks off with bright caramel and vanilla, then quickly deepens into browned butter, toasted oak, and candied orange peel. Red fruit starts peeking through—think cherry skins and a little strawberry syrup.
There’s a faint dusting of cinnamon sugar, peanut shell, and baking spice that makes the whole thing smell like a bourbon-forward bakery.

On the palate, the whiskey lands with a thick, slightly oily texture that carries more weight than you’d expect from a 5-year. Caramel corn, toffee, and vanilla cream set the tone. Dark cherry, orange zest, and a drizzle of maple show up next, framed by cinnamon, clove, and a little rye-driven black pepper. Charred oak steps in late, adding structure without dragging things into bitterness.

The finish rides medium-long, leaning into sweet oak, brown sugar, and lingering baking spice.
A touch of cocoa, citrus pith, and roasted peanut hangs on the edges as the heat slowly tapers off.
It feels like a competition barrel that actually drinks like one—no filler, no fluff, just a clean, confident single-barrel profile.