Tastes

Nose: Dusty sweetness of baking spices and an empty Sun-Maid raisins box with an underlying nuttiness of crushed almonds. Palate: The light character of Lowland malt keeps the palate high and forward, with the nuttiness amplifying and the Bourbon cask vanilla and oak notes rolling around on the tongue. The grain, wood and vanilla fade into a lingering but airy... Finish with echoes of spice and char, and a hint of salt and dessicated limes. No burn to speak of, which is to be expected considering the proof and region. Not particularly complex for an 18 year old whisky. Pleasant, balanced and non-confrontational.

Mash Bill: 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malt Peppery rye "kick" typical of higher-rye Bourbon mashbills Nose: Honey, pie spices, butterscotch Palate: Oak, ginger, rye spice and toasted cereal notes. Medium body. Finish: Long, warm, cereal/grain and spice notes Reported to have a lower barrel entry proof than standard.

Acetone on the nose masks fresh roasted coffee beans, white pepper, tart crust and currant jam. Palate is pleasant to start with the fruits getting stronger but the pepper escalates quickly. Dry, tannic, peppery finish. Adding water tones down the pepper and highlights the pie crust/baked goods.

The extra years in the barrel make this a very well-rounded yet complex version of younger expressions, with flavors of salted soft pretzels, dried autumn flowers and fresh Brie.

Eye: Amber/Straw Nose: Caramel/Bitter Cherry/Acetone/Dried Thyme & Mint/Dried or Powdered Ginger Chew: Bitter Cherry Drops (hard candy)/Powdered Cinnamon/Fresh-cut Wood (more pine board sawdust than sap) Finish: Hints of Copper/Lingering flavors of crushed fresh herbs - Thyme, Mint Burn: Warm but light, the burn spreads out from the throat and dissipates quickly