Tastes

I was going to go through a lengethy review here on the nose, palate and finish. Forget all that. This stuff is fantastic with deep flavors and quality oak with age. Highly recommend. A top 5 bourbon for me. Maybe top 3.

Nose: initially all ripe apple. Maybe a hint of maple. As it sat thos dissipate and are replaced by angel food cake and something vegetal. Not peaty, per se, but im guessing thats where the vegetal comes from. Palate: sauteed celery, white cake frosting, earthy, sweet menthol Finish: white pepper, faint juicy fruit gum With water a little sweeter. As it sits in glass the maple returns on the nose. Not nearly as smoky as i remember, or as good. Its not bad at all, but the quality seems to have dipped. I actually prefer the Double Black to this for complexity and intensity of flavor (even though its a blend vs this blended malt). After about five minutes a faint aftertaste of cigarette ash formed on the back of my palate…but otherwise the smoke on this is very subdued.

Nose: brown sugar, citrus rind, and in the back…maple. A little spiritous but nice just the same. Palate: lemon juice, boysenberry syrup, melon, caramel, black pepper. A little hot. Finish: citrus rind, melon, strawberry menthols This drinks a lot like a cask strength sherried scotch…and thats a compliment. Solid stuff.

Nose: milk chocolate, suggestions of maple in background Palate: crème brûlée Finish: lemon rind, hint of oak, mild malt sweetness This is surprisingly smooth for the proof and a nice dram for sure. Not as sherried as I was expecting…leans a bit more to the bourbon barrel. Easy sipper. *this was a neck pour. We’ll see how a little O2 treats it after a few weeks.

Nose: milk chocolate, wood smoke, and ethanol. With time fresh cherry. With water strong maple comes on Palate: pine, caramel candy, citrus rind Finish: menthol, citrus, char, strawberry cream candy This is different, but every bit as good (maybe better flavor but not as smooth) as Rittenhouse (and mixes as good as Rittenhouse in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned). In fact, it reminds me of a less refined Rare Breed rye (which I love). For $29 a bottle this along with Rittenhouse will now have a place in my regular rotation as my go-to mixer for rye cocktails. Update: after this bottle is opened and oxidizes for about a week it really mellows and softens. Takes on a strong vanilla maple character. Delicous and smooth at 100 proof. Upping to 4.25 stars

Nose: wood smoke, raisins Palate: raisins, black pepper Finish: marzipan, pepper, cinnamon With water: gets sweeter Not bad. A little young, but not too bad at all. (Flaviar Advent Calendar)

Nose: apple and citrus Palate: citrus, white pepper Finish: lemon zest, white pepper With water: chardonnay, oak, butter, melon, bitter lemon, caramel. This takes water really well and i recommend it. (Flaviar Advent Calendar)

Nose: grapes, peat, barrel char, chocolate Palate: mild citrus, moderately sweet malt, hints of dried fruits Finish: mild fresh red fruit, bitter dark chocolate With water: drowns. Better neat. This is smooth as glass. Not super complex but well made and a solid Irish malt. (Flaviar Advent Calendar)