Tastes

The palate of this whisky shifts towards a maltier personality, featuring wood dust, mint, and a slight malt funk at the outset. As it lingers, it unfolds into cereal notes along with unripe melon and lemon zest, presenting a spirit-forward profile with minimal wood cask influence, indicative of its younger age, marked by classic notes of fresh cut grass and wet hay. The mouthfeel is adequate but unremarkable, and the increased alcohol content to 45% ABV prevents it from feeling diluted, potentially enhancing its presence in cocktails. However, despite the higher ABV, the finish is unexpectedly short and can quickly become bitter, transitioning from the malty and fruity nuances of the nose and palate to flavors reminiscent of black tea and buttered popcorn.

Moving smoothly from the aroma, the palate is greeted with delightful flavors of honey, green apples, and apricot, presenting themselves with a soft touch and a light body. There's a subtle hint of astringency lurking in the background, complemented by a brief note of cinnamon, which adds to the depth and presence of the overall sweet character. The finish introduces a modest burst of cinnamon spice, bringing with it a slightly more pronounced astringency that is nevertheless not unpleasant. This initial spice gives way to sweeter notes of honey, toffee, and apples, underscored by a hint of allspice. With a medium length, the finish neatly rounds off the tasting experience, echoing the characteristic sweetness and gracefully diminishing the flavors that came before.

Explosion of heat. It’s spicy, nutty, Jalapeño peanut brittle. Notes of oak, leather, and some bitterness from the char. There’s a touch of corn, the mouthfeel is pretty good, but nothing extraordinary. Long, lingering finish with less heat than the palate but still featuring peanut butter, caramelized sugars, and a touch less oak.