Tastes

Aroma of Green apples and cinnamon. Rounded mouthfeel with a darker spice finish.

Dried apricot comes to the front in a subtle floral and malty aroma. The flavor comes in waves: Peach, Lavender, Honey Then the slowest and most graduated heathery-peat arrives. Must.Sip.Slowly.

Candied Pecan aroma with a density that lingers. First sip was soft and muted compared to what the aroma offered. Additional sips brought out the yeastiness, nuttiness and corn. The finish brings out the Moderate wood, and a lingering orange.

Sherry aroma evident from the first whiff. Vanilla-filled caramel flavor with a sip. Strangely thin when it first hit the tongue, but then thickens and rounds out with a cherry finish. Still, a tad sharp, not with rye - but almost medicinal.

Roasted honey aroma. Peat stronger on the nose than in the glass. Mouthfeel belies the age - creamy and dense like something older.

Butterscotch and ashy aroma. Dense rolling legs show its richness. Taste not as sweet as the nose implies, but more like Brazil nut with white pepper.

Honey bomb, sweet finish. A touch of white grape and grass. No rough edges, but short on complexity.

Getting back to this one, as it was what got me started on fine Japanese whisky. Nose of plum and green wood smoke. Rich, oily mouthfeel arrives even before the flavor. Apple and cantaloupe melon flavor, with a crisp and dry finish. Some pepper heat.

BarChef - Toronto. Nose slightly brighter than expected. Some barnyard to go with the leather and oak. Flavor of brown butter and toffee was consistent end to end over 2 oz. age was apparent, without the dryness and chalkiness that accompanies some older bourbon (ehhh...hmmm...Elijah Craig). Palate lingered with butter and sesame oil. One pour of this could last for hours.

Instantly familiar GTS age on the nose. Aroma of barnyard and leather. This is a tough guy pour. Cinnamon and clove flavors with a super thick caramel that lingers on the tongue. Feel like a judges wood paneled study with a good book. The essence of a rich, full experience every time.