Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential American Single Malt

Red wine finishing is prominent in good and bad ways. This isn’t my ideal single malt, but it presents cleanly and is an enjoyable pour. Well done for an out of the way craft distiller, and will be a clear winner for those that like a spicier profile with those red wine barrel notes. Rich tawny red-gold. Grapey with a pleasant twinge of spice on the nose. A touch sour. Palate builds upon the nose. Grapes that edge toward grappa, persistent cinnamon, red fruit, and the vein of sourness stays. Aspartame. Walnut. Sweet start is overrun by a building spice that lingers. Shares a common hallmark with other CR products. A little young overall but a nice pour if you want a little assertiveness.

Very unique and tasty. Powerful, fresh fruity nose. Palette, more of the same with caramel and malt. Interesting, good find.

Caramel, red hot, and cocoa nuts Nose after a 10 min rest: stone fruits with chocolate, pepper, spice- nutmeg and cinnamon, caramel, vanilla orange and lemon, walnut, smoke Taste begins with chocolate, smoke, stone fruit, then pepper, nuts, spice, vanilla, ending on a caramel, vanilla, pepper, chocolate