Tastes

Sweet, dark nose, with caramel and brown sugar and a hint of smoke. Big apple palate, with a big, long, dark sugary finish. Makers did it again. Delicious.

Orange zest is the main player on the nose, complemented by some subtler baking spices. Tangerine, wildflower honey, and a hint of charcoal on the palate. Slight smoke on the finish, which lasts longer than you’d expect for the proof, a welcome surprise.

Lemon peel and oak on the nose. Turns much darker on the palate, with notes of orange and chocolate. Nice, smoky, warm finish that’s just dry enough. Drinks above its proof but just right for the age. Great pour.

(11 year, 2 month pick from Mammoth Liquors in Campbellsville, KY) Delightful nose, full of cinnamon and vanilla. Palate is so rich, and a big, powerful finish follows it up. Wow. A delicious pastry of a drink.

Very pleasant nose of blackberry, lemon, and a hint of baking spices, like a fresh pastry. The palate is bolder than you’d expect, but transitions quickly into a very nice, long but subtle finish. Hints of banana bread and brown sugar throughout. Drinks a little hotter and longer than you’d expect for a 100 proof, and that’s a good thing.

Sweet corn on the nose with some pleasant cinnamon and tea leaf notes coming to play as well. Palate is a little thin and bready, but there’s a nice sweetness to it. The finish is predominantly peanuty and fairly easygoing, but lingers more than you may expect for a 90 proof. Not an outstanding pour, but a solid one.

Nose has a nice, dark sweetness to it, like dried fruit and clove. Palate carries a lot of those fruit notes, but they’re drier. Finish starts almost rye-like with a fresh, vegetal note before turning intensely peanuty, leaving you with a nice hug you’d expect from this proof point. Probably not gonna blow anyone away, but for 30 bucks, it’s a heck of a bottle.

Nose is pretty mild, with some apricot and floral notes coming through. Hint of brown sugar too. Apples, raisin, and more brown sugar on the palate. Nice, lingering, warm finish, with a hint of chocolate. It’s different, the cognac presence is strong, but I’m a fan.

Peach, apricot, and brown sugar on the nose. Those fruit flavors turn richer and deeper on the palate, followed by a medium/long finish with plenty of mint and rye spice. May not be everyone’s thing, but I think it’s fantastic.

Brown sugar and orange on the nose. Black pepper and baking spice on the palate. A nice oaky finish reveals its age. I don’t think this’ll blow anyone away, but it’s solid.