Otay Buckwheat whiskey

Here I've got a generous gift from @PBMichiganWolverine. It comes from Catskill Distilling Co. I don't know much about them, but they seem like a craft distillery with a penchant for creating experimental spirits. This one, made from Buckwheat--which is a seed and not a grain--qualifies as a "spirit" rather than a whiskey. Let's see what you can do without a traditional grain base. Nose: Big-time sawdust. Brown sugar, caramel, and candle wax. Oatmeal and Apple Jacks. Plenty of oak and wood. Black pepper, anise, and allspice. Molasses and sugar cane. Was a bit off-putting at first, but I'm actually quite liking what I'm getting here. Sweet and woody. Palate: Brown sugar and oat. Caramel and a bit of nail polish. Molasses and black tea. Vanilla. Tobacco, clove, numteg, and allspice. Still plenty of sweetness, but it's a tad more bitter while the oak has become more mild. Finish: Short-medium. It's all spice. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, allspice. Oak. Some of that brown sugar, oat, and nail polish linger, but not for long. This is an interesting experimental whisk--I mean spirit. It drinks similar to Koval's Four Grain whiskey, though I prefer this one to the latter. Especially on the nose. Would I buy a full bottle? I'm not sure. But I'm grateful to @PBMichiganWolverine for letting me try this. I never would have guessed that a seed-based spirit could drink like a decent whiskey. Interesting stuff here.

It’s been ages since I’ve opened a new bottle. Been going through an immense backlog of samples. But I braved putting on a face mask, and venturing into a wine store to buy some red wine for the pizza sauce I was making at home. While there, I noticed this strange little bottle on the shelf. Nestled neatly between a variety of American craft whiskey offerings. Buckwheat whiskey? I like buckwheat pancakes. Maybe this might be just as interesting. And heck..$25 for a 375ml isn’t bad. Theoretically I guess buckwheat isn’t a grain. It’s a seed. So...this can’t be whiskey, but instead “spirit”. Either way, seems interesting. Color is interesting...like a well aged Armagnac. At first whiff, this is more like a brandy than whiskey. I’m getting floral aromas mixed with some grape and oak. Taste nothing like buckwheat pancakes. But that’s not to say it’s not good. It’s just different—-tastes of Cedar wood , some brandy flavor, allspice. Okay so—-this isn’t for fans of straight normal whiskey. But if you’re looking to deviate from the norm, try something different, and not beak the bank for the experiment, this is well worth the try.