Chattanooga Whiskey Founder's 11th Anniversary Blend

Nose starts out a bit vegetal and vaguely musty. Repeat trips draw out a dry nutty smell, like opening a new tin of mixed nuts. With a lot of effort I can find malted vanilla powder and a hint of nutmeg. Interesting aromas, but lacking any sort of cohesion and almost jarringly disjointed. Palate is a bit better, and here the high malted barley recipe goes a long way to smoothing out the peaks and filling in the valleys. Vanilla and caramel and Demerara sugar open, and the palate has a nice heft to it. But all too quickly it turns hot and sharp, with cinnamon, clove, artificial cinnamon extract and just plain old ethanol completely removing any of the initial pleasant flavors. The barley shows up again in the finish, taming the heat so the sweet comes back a bit and closing dry, short and clean. Even at 50% ABV this drinks hotter than the standard 111 Cask at 55.5% ABV, and that has everything to do with the 111 being strictly their high malted barley mashbill. I dont know what two whiskys they used to represent the past and the future, but I don’t think I would like them on their own, just as I don’t particularily like this rendition of a limited annual release.

Young but not harsh

Long long finish. Dark chocolate and lingering berry notes. Bing cherry chocolate and light cinnamon. Really good stuff flad I finally opened my bottle.