Lot No. 40 Dark Oak

Once you let this open up it is an amazing rye. Black tea and baking spices on the nose. Cinnamon raisin toast on the pallet. This stuff is my new daily sipper.

Will not be confused with an Islay, but a campfire smoke to go with a caramel or vanilla nose. On the palate some leather and spice and everything nice. A nice peppery finish to remind you it’s a rye. Good balance and a smooth sipper overall. Tried it neat without water.

I'm a fan of Lot 40 but generally for me it's a cocktail whisky. I was excited to pick up this new release and see if it will hold up neat. It's certainly a delicious looking colour! Nose: Lots of vanilla initially. Strong caramel notes here too. I'm also getting a bit of orange peel coming through. Palate: Really rich and full. Nice oily mouth feel. Much smoother than I had anticipated with mild alcohol burn. Slightly burnt French toast is the initial impression with the cinnamon lingering. Anise and black pepper then join the party. Finish: Medium. The best part is the delicious tingling and a minty coolness hanging out at the back of the palate. The black pepper also lingers for some time. I then tried a small taste of regular Lot 40. The Dark Oak is much smoother and richer despite the higher ABV. The mouthfeel is much nicer with Dark Oak as well. Overall I'm very impressed and definitely will enjoy this both neat and in cocktails!

Lot 40 and Lot 40 Dark Oak side by side. Both are very good, classic expressions that highlight everything good about rye whisky. Rye spice notes, lots of black licorice and a hint of apple on the Lot 40. Lot 40 Dark Oak is higher abv yet softer and creamier on the palette. More spice, dark fruits like cherry, molasses and a bubblegum powder like Topps gum from a pack of 1983 baseball cards. The Dark Oak is a bit sweeter and has a much longer spicy finish. Regular Lot 40 is an excellent rye bomb and Dark Oak is a step better and worth the extra cost.