Tastes

Nose of roasted corn, popcorn (if that’s different), toasted caramel, oak, charcoal, baking spices, vanilla. Palate toasty and mildly sweet, vanilla, some char, oak, baking spices. Medium finish of mostly wood and spices.

HRB21-1, 64.4%. Nose of rye, green apple, oak, char, honeydew melon, orange peel, maraschino cherry, a hint of vanilla. Heavy rye on the palate, hot and spicy, cherry, vanilla, Red Hots, oak, sugar at the back end. Hot, spicy cinnamon finish.

Nose barley mash, wood, cherry, orange peel, cinnamon, melon, black pepper. Palate cinnamon, wood, cherry, vanilla. Medium finish.

Nose: grapes, cinnamon, berries, wood, raisins, caramel, cashews, cherry, vanilla. Palate cherry, oak, strawberry, cinnamon, grapes, vanilla. Slightly peppery on the finish but quite smooth.

Nose of rye, red wine, oak, apple, caramel, vanilla, melon. Hot on the palate, deep rye spice, oak, black pepper, red wine. Spicy finish. Odd, and not my favorite, but interesting combination/profile.

Bottle 185 of 236. 57.9%. Lucky grab 5 years after release at a little store in Katy. Nose of berries, grape, caramel, oak, oranges, lemons, cherries, cinnamon, toffee and toast. There’s actually a lot about this nose that evokes a nice, but uncommonly strong, cognac, though the palate is clearly whisky. Palate cinnamon, toffee, oak, black pepper, berries and cherry. It’s tasty, but really shines on the nose. Finishes long with cinnamon and peppery heat.

Nose of red wine, oak, toast, apple, berries, corn, caramel, char, honey, and oranges. Palate is sweet and spicy, red wine, pepper, oak, char, caramel, vanilla, and orange peel. Spicy, peppery wine barrel finish.