Tastes

A bit of mustiness initially hits you on the nose, with hints of honey and walnuts following. Surprising. Unfortunately, the nose is the best thing about this whiskey. Very smooth on the tongue, muted, almost tasteless at first. Then... nothing. A burst of flavor never comes. Slight bitterness develops after a while. The finish is short and dry, the warmth (or lack of) is not surprising for a minimum proof whiskey. Will try it again later, maybe it'll open up with time. 3/22/17 Fourth time trying this, it's improved ever so slightly, but still not something I'll reach for. Given the good reviews I've seen elsewhere, I'll chalk this up to a bad barrel, and just my own personal palate idiosynchracies. 4/20/17

Surprisingly complex nose - vanilla, honey, orchard fruit, light wood. Palate is soft, with just a hint of sharpness at the end. Somewhat silky. Flavors of butterscotch, wood, cider, a flash of dark chocolate. Some heat at the end, but the finish isn't as strong as some other 100-proofers. An easy sipper, but enough there to keep you occupied. 3/16/17 Getting some char and an additional walnutty aftertaste. This seems to be getting better. 3/24/17 Bottled in Bond version. Clean nose - fresh wood, oats, and honey. Smooth on the tongue, some zest, floral honey, corn syrup, oak, nutmeg and cinnamon. A hint of dark chocolate covered nuts at the end. Layered. 9/13/17

On the nose, concentrated caramel, butterscotch, some musty notes. On the palate, sweetness (although, not nearly as much as batches 006 and 007), oak, cinnamon, and some medicinal accents. Medium mouthfeel. Hints of bitter chocolate and peanuts creep up after a few sips. Long, warm finish that spreads from the mouth to the throat to the whole midsection. 3/15/17

Smells like... bourbon. Vanilla, oak, some orchard fruit. Silky on the tongue, some caramel... then you quickly realize this is scotch, not bourbon. Malt flavors, some bitterness, oak, fruit, and a slight medicinal flavor at the end. Nice warmth. Apart from the great nose and the wood notes, not as bourbony as I was expecting, but I was probably looking for too much. This is a pleasant pour, not quite an easy sipper for me given the level of bitterness (not overwhelming, just a bit more than I prefer). A great one to try with buddies during a whisk(e)y tasting. 3/14/17

Very fruity nose, the sherry influences are evident. After a little while, wood notes are featured as well. I'm not sure if this is peated, but I sense a whiff of iodine as well, and that carries over to the palate. On the tongue I get an initial burst of iodine which stays throughout. Silky, some bitter wood, and more heat than you would expect from this proof. Sharp, some citrus notes, smoke. The warmth lingers. I haven't had any of the age statement versions, but this one seems like it would hold up against a comparably priced scotch. 3/14/17

Better than the 2016.

The first time I had this, it shocked me with its strength and intense flavor. Overwhelming, but so... good. Five months later, and I appreciate it even more. Nose of roasted nuts, wood, vanilla, and alcohol heat. You definitely feel the proof, but the flavor is also strong. This is the Beam flavor profile on steroids. Nuts, honey, spice on the palate. Backend is all leather. The warmth is there going down all the way to the stomach, but not as crazy as expected given the proof and the 2x4 that hits you in the face when you first take a sip. Adding a limestone water ice cube brings out even more peanuts and nocino on the nose, tames the heat and heightens the sweetness a bit on the palate. But I recommend taking this straight. It's a force, enjoy the ride. 3/12/17

Smokey, peaty, but smooth. 3/10/17

Peaty, iodine heavy, reminds me of a Kilchoman. But not too off-putting. 3/9/17