Tastes

Started neat, then added ice. Nose: Starts astringent but then reveals stone fruit reminiscent of apricot and nectarine. Palate: Initially get the heat from spice notes with hints of orange peel. Then waves of grassy herbs come and go from sage to cilantro. Not as floral as the Act 5 but still complex and exciting. Finish: Long lasting finish without overwhelming heat. -Ice clarifies the harmony of flavors and helps separate the profiles.

-Neat first then added one ice cube. -Nose: Caramel and vanilla are the only players. -Palate: Apple pie and maple syrup right away. Then subtle spice comes after. Smaller notes of milk chocolate arrive late. -Finish: Subtle sweetness of maple syrup slight anise. -Definitely blossoms with ice as the previous notes get enhanced.

-Neat to start and ended with one ice cube. -Nose: forest pine, wildflowers, bit of rosewater. -Palate: Citrus (orange) initially, then spearmint and clove fight back and forth. -Finish: Clove spice lingers citrus pleasantly stays on the tongue. -No need for ice, however, it does bring out deeper herbal and orange peel notes.

Started neat then added ice halfway. Nose: immediately floral. Grassy like a bale of hay. Palate: quite complex and fun to decipher. Getting blackberry jam, red wine reduction, and toasted spice. Finish: long and lasting with the grassy/hay profile. Subtle spice comes back as the ice melts. Overall entertaining with it’s complexity and deep intertwined flavors.

Starting neat, adding one small ice cube halfway. Nose: Brown sugar and vanilla. Palate: Subtle and lingering spice. The warmth of a Hot Toddy comes to surface with waves of licorice. Sugar, licorice, and anise increase as the ice melts and trades places with the spice. Finish: Spice of licorice and clove remain to the end of the glass. Overall surpasses the expectations for a bourbon aged under 4 years.

Nikka Coffee Grain Double/ 2 small ice cubes Nose: big vanilla, hint of all spice and anise. Prolonged but not powerful peat. Brushes of walnut and pecan hide in the background. Dark maple enters the stage occasionally. Hint of crushed mint and orange zest. Finish becomes sweeter as the glass dwindles and the ice melts bringing back the vanilla and adding dark brown sugar.

Neat then one small ice cube. Nose: vanilla, pecan pie, caramelized apples. Palate: at first get the all-spice and clove, then slight vanilla. Finish: all-spice/clove/nutmeg comes back slightly harsh coating the tongue. An ice helps open up the sweeter pecan. Overall decent but overpriced. Perhaps the story upped the retail price.