Tastes

Brief tasting. Full notes some other time after I buy a bottle. 116 proof. Absolutely no ethanol on the nose but also relatively flat. Perhaps due to the stubby little tasting glass... it may offer a bit more character from a Glencairn. Sweet... almost syrupy. Thick mouthfeel. Extremely easy to drink, sweetness dominates. No evidence of the proof. Background evidence of a licorice note, but very approachable. Will need to try again in a more relaxed setting but seems very promising. Much more appealing than the single barrel bourbon.

Mint and barrel notes on the nose. Clear whiff of rye grain, although I’ve assumed this is not a high rye mash. Orange-brown in the glass. Oily legs. Menthol, dark chocolate, and oak course throughout the taste. Green apple, barrel char. Generously spiced from both flavor and proof. Not overly sweet but has some toffee notes. The first few sips have a slightly mildewed undertone, as if the charring didn’t entirely cleanse the open-air aged staves. The chocolate + apple edges toward bitter/sour cocoa, but thankfully all that eventually fades, letting the deep chocolate-y flavors, oak, and bold spice occasionally harmonize in a way I usually associate with some very high-end products. Astringent finish that keeps tingling for a while with mint chocolate notes. A less common profile that can both delight and challenge, but realistically for $13/L this is a knockout. Price has jumped in the last 6 months up to a ~$20 bottle which is less of a steal as well as going NAS... direct competitor with the outstanding VFM WT101, which I’d probably pick over this aside from the scarcity factor/mystique. If anything, this is a touch over-oaked and I almost get the feeling that these were quick-aging barrels intended for Evan Williams Black Label that were bought on the cheap (accordingly) but continued aging to release with better “stats” and the result is mixed - a bit disjointed but some clear successes as well.

Passes for a syrupy apple juice in the glass - golden wheat with a touch of oily weight. Grain-forward nose, with white pear, apple blossom, and allspice. Subdued but noticeable puff of spice. The taste is sharp and tart, opening with mounds of orange rind plus unaged grappa, aspartame, and white pepper. A dash of walnut: equally rich and bitter. The aspartame sweetness builds while lavender, sage, and licorice arrive. The citrus, herbal notes, and aspartame continue through a pronounced puckering tingle that lingers on the finish. The tongue stays awash with synthetic orange cough syrup. It could be mistaken for a very spicy highland grain whisky (note that I am unaware of any examples of this made-up category... but it comes to mind when tasting). Despite the myriad flavors, it all feels quite cohesive and had me feeling like it was all one huge (unidentifiable) flavor through the first quarter of the glass. The experience is unique, intriguing, and has appeal. For me, however, the positives get torpedoed by the dominant saccharine notes. The craftsmanship is unmistakable, but unfortunately I am strongly averse to most artificial sweeteners and just can't look past those flavors, which of course may not be an issue for others. Halfway through the bottle so I'm sure its not just a fleeting impression. My appreciation of this pour has improved with time, but not enough to recommend it unless those tasting notes sound right up your alley.