Canned Cocktail Review: 34 North Cocktail Co Barrel Thief

Part 2: The Barrel Thief

If you were here last week then you know the story of how 34 North Cocktail Co landed with two reviews instead of one for their brand new canned cocktails. (If you missed it you can catch up here.)

I have been looking forward to trying their Barrel Thief cocktail since last Thursday. And then I almost forgot it. Not because I wasn't dying to try it but because the silly holiday week through me off and I thought it was Wednesday until about 9:30 Thursday night. At which point I jumped off the couch, pumped it was finally time to try this Old Fashion inspired drink.

The can describes this cocktail this way:

This cocktail is reminiscent of the old fashion that you have come to love with high notes of vanilla, caramel and black walnut with a black cherry finish.

What I heard was: whiskey drink

If you've been following me for a while then you know I am a cocktail enthusiast, not a cocktail expert. Things like "note of honeybees" seem ridiculous to me but as a ex-corporate marketer, I get the reason they do it.

And wouldn't you know it, I finally have to eat my words when it comes to that. I definitely did taste vanilla, caramel and cherry right off the bat. And a few sips in I picked up on the black walnut. Does that mean I'm becoming a cocktail snob now? *face palm*

I am choosing to believe that the reason a novice like me was able to pick up all of those "notes" is because this cocktail has been flawlessly crafted by the geniuses at 34 North Cocktail Co.

Here is my official review of 34° North Cocktail Co's Barrel Thief:

Wow! Wow! Wow! This. Is. An. A-mazing. Cocktail.

I swear this can is filled with top shelf bourbon and nothing else. I love a whiskey drink and this is hands down the best I've had in years - and the last one was at a fancy underground hipster bar in Portland. From a real live bartender. And this one is in a can. Mind blown!

One shaker = not sweet at all  // Five shakers = your teeth may curl

This ready-to-drink cocktail is on the sweeter end of the spectrum which makes sense for a whiskey cocktail. The caramel and vanilla give it a rich sweetness that I found to be fabulous.

One shaker = does this have booze? Five shakers = Four Lokos

I don't know that I've ever given out 5 cocktail shakers for booziness (because I haven't tried a Four Lokos yet). This ready to drink cocktail officially rings in at 15% ABV! Hot damn this is stiff drink.

I swear to you, I had one sip and I felt tipsy. I can not wait to have more Barrel Thief cocktails with my friends this summer. This is the perfect at-home cocktail for when you want to kick back and not go anywhere for awhile. You'll only need one can so you won't even have to get up for a refill. ;)

Would I buy this ready to drink cocktail again?

It's a solid yes from me dog. Consider me officially a super fan of both canned cocktails from 34 North Cocktail Co.

Check out their Instagram to find out where you can pick up these canned cocktails in your area.

Have you tried this drink? What did you think? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section. The more opinions the better! Let's "drink together" and share our cocktail stories.