Enhancing barrel-aged characteristics

Hello

I would like to know if cellaring a barrel-aged beer has any impact on the assertiveness of the barrel characteristics of the beer, its aroma and flavor.
I came up with this doubt after having a Bourbon Barrel Aged Arrogant Bastard because I've read some reviews of that beer complaining of no bourbon barrel character whatsoever, yet the one that I drank was all bourbon barrel, with leather aroma and vanilla flavor.
Oddly enough, the particular bottle I drank had no bottling date, so I was left in the dark.

So, is there a way to do so?
Or does the interaction between the barrel, the amount of time aged and the base beer give the finished beer an unalterable strength of the barrel-aged characteristics?

Thanks in advance
Cheers