Classic Kentucky character meets rich brown sugar, layered orchard fruit, and a finish reminiscent of pineapple upside-down cake.
Stats
- Type: Straight Bourbon
- Age: 8 years and 11 months
- Proof: 118 (59% ABV)
- Mashbills: 70% Corn │ 21% Rye │ 9% Malted Barley
- Origin: O.Z. Tyler (Green River) — Owensboro, Kentucky
- Additional Aging: Western Kentucky Distilling Co. — Beaver Dam, Kentucky
- Release: Limited release, single barrel, KBF
- MSRP: $89 / 750 mL (via Samuel Call)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Honeycrisp apple leads before deepening into black cherry, dried orange slices, and brown sugar dusted with cinnamon. As the pour opens up, the nose grows more complex, revealing fig, additional orchard fruit, and a distant nuttiness reminiscent of pecan praline.
- Palate: The mouthfeel is full, robust, and coating, carrying an explosion of flavor across the palate. Deep brown sugar develops into creamy caramel, joined by fig, orange zest, and a pronounced barrel presence that gives the sweetness real depth.
- Finish: A burst of cinnamon and clove brings warmth without excessive heat, followed by bright red apple and orange. The finish lingers beautifully with the unmistakable sweetness of pineapple upside-down cake, delivering a fantastic Kentucky hug that keeps the fruit and spice in balance.
Samuel Call Barrel 3 opens with the familiar comforts of classic Kentucky bourbon, then takes things somewhere deeper. At 118 proof, this barrel delivers a full, coating mouthfeel packed with brown sugar, creamy caramel, orchard fruit, and a warming cinnamon-and-clove finish that never feels overdone.
What makes this pour especially compelling is how its flavors build on one another. Bright apple and orange give way to darker fruit, pecan praline, and a long, sweet finish that calls to mind pineapple upside-down cake. It’s another excellent example of the carefully selected barrels behind Samuel Call, with a depth that makes every return to the glass worthwhile.
Presentation
Samuel Call strikes a balance between classy and understated, capturing a sense of legacy without leaning too heavily into vintage styling.
Cream and Kentucky blue give the bottle a clean, recognizable look, while the prominently displayed stats make it easy to understand exactly what you’re getting without digging for details.
Distinctiveness
Barrels 1 through 3 have easily been my favorite OZ Tyler barrels I’ve tasted so far, and Jacob’s ability to cherry-pick from his private stock is on full display here.
From memory, I’d give Barrel 1 the subjective edge, but Barrel 3 is still fantastic.
It retains that familiar OZ Tyler DNA while building on it with deeper brown sugar, creamy caramel, darker fruit, fig, and a lingering pineapple upside-down cake finish that adds another layer of richness to the formula.
“Barrels 1 through 3 have easily been my favorite OZ Tyler barrels I’ve tasted so far.”
Transparency
Not a single detail left behind.
The stats are prominently displayed right on the front of the bottle, giving consumers easy access to the information they want without having to hunt for a back label or search online.
It’s a straightforward approach that respects the drinker and makes this bottle an excellent example of what whiskey transparency should look like.
Value
Quite frankly, this is arguably one of the best values in well-aged, premium Kentucky bourbon.
At $90 for a nine-year-old OZ Tyler bottle, Samuel Call delivers a compelling combination of age, proof, transparency, and flavor that is increasingly difficult to find at this price point.
And the liquid absolutely backs it up: deep sweetness, substantial barrel character, layered fruit, and a finish that keeps you coming back for another sip. At $90, this is the kind of bottle that makes premium bourbon feel worth the price.
Buy if:
- You love classic Kentucky bourbon with extra depth.
- You gravitate toward brown sugar, caramel, and cinnamon.
- You enjoy layered apple, cherry, fig, and citrus notes.
- You want a 118-proof pour with a long, fruit-driven finish.
Skip if:
- You prefer lighter-bodied, delicate bourbon.
- You avoid higher-proof whiskey.
- You dislike pronounced oak and barrel character.
- You prefer dry, savory, or minimally sweet profiles.
Verdict
Samuel Call Barrel 3 is another terrific showing from a brand that has impressed me across all three barrels I’ve tasted so far. The nose initially suggests a familiar Kentucky bourbon, but the first sip reveals something considerably more encompassing: a rich, coating wave of brown sugar and creamy caramel that gradually gives way to cinnamon, clove, citrus, and layers of fruit.
The finish is where this bourbon really comes together. That combination of bright apple, orange, warming spice, and lingering pineapple upside-down cake creates a satisfying progression that feels both indulgent and balanced. As the pour opens up, the nose develops additional complexity, with fig and pecan praline adding more dimension to an already inviting profile.
What stands out most is the consistency of the experience without the whiskey feeling one-dimensional. Each of the three Samuel Call barrels I’ve tasted has been absolutely delicious, and I wouldn’t rush to declare one the best. Barrel 3 makes its own case through depth, sweetness, and a wonderfully lingering finish. Samuel Call continues to demonstrate what thoughtful barrel selection can bring to the glass.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
Samuel Call Barrel 3 pairs deep Kentucky bourbon character with brown sugar, orchard fruit, warming spice, and a lingering pineapple upside-down cake finish that makes every sip count.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 6.25 / 7
- Palate: 6.6 / 7
- Finish: 6.5 / 7
- Presentation: 5.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 6 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 6.25 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 6.3 / 7 – Holy Heaven
Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often high value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge via randomly drawn giveaway. All opinions are my own.
About Samuel Call
Samuel Call Bourbon carries forward a Kentucky distilling legacy that dates to 1791, when family ancestor Samuel Call operated stills on his farm in what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky. More than two centuries later, the family tradition continues through eighth-generation Kentuckian and Master Distiller Jacob Call, whose work reflects generations of accumulated knowledge, hands-on experience, and a deep connection to Kentucky whiskey.
Jacob’s path into the industry was shaped by his father, Ron Call, and grandfather, both of whom worked at Jim Beam. After beginning his career in banking, Jacob joined his father in the spirits business in 2007. He later helped revive the historic O.Z. Tyler distillery in Owensboro, which became Green River Distilling Company, building a reputation for his work in whiskey production and distillery operations. Today, Samuel Call brings that experience back to the family name.
Rather than simply trading on its history, Samuel Call puts that heritage in the bottle one barrel at a time. Each release is a single-barrel Kentucky straight bourbon selected from the Call family’s private stock (distilled in the past by Jacob), offering drinkers a chance to experience Jacob’s eye for distinctive whiskey. For bourbon enthusiasts, the appeal is the combination of a genuine family story, carefully selected barrels, and a modern expression of a tradition eight generations in the making.
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