Rare Hare 1953 Anniversary Edition

So good!

Note: ok. So. I watched adhd whiskey. I saw Matt review this whiskey and I was thinking he say it’s garbage and laugh it all the way to the dump. Then he said it’s one of the best whiskies he’s ever tasted. So I thought, he drinks a lot of whiskey he must know, maybe I’ll take a flyer. My whisky buddy said don’t do it. Not worth it. Then I almost bought this after many drams and thought wait, learn more about it. It’s a commitment, wait until it comes to the stores. Then I got the itch. I though F it. I have an opportunity to try something. I can afford it. Let’s roll the dice. So I went for it. Then I realized it’s going to come by fedex from Florida… to minnesota. I had set my expectations that the bottle would arrive in one piece at about 1%. I was sure someone along the way would open it and take half. Then it arrived. While I was at work. My wife texted me and said the box got here and she signed for it. I asked if it was leaking. She said no. Ok. I worked all day wondering what is going to be wrong with this adventure, this leap of faith into the expensive unknown. I thought to myself sometimes in life you have to take a calculated risk. I took that risk and am now ready to see what I’ve done. The anticipation is incredible. This might be the stupidest whiskey purchase I’ve ever made but it might be the best. Let’s find out. Nose:gooey caramel, oak, I can distinctly nose the grape influence barrel influence, I’m a fan of cava brut and I can nose that in this, buts it’s more like champagne. Thick dark chocolate with vanilla sprinkles. But primarily chocolate caramel and champagne. Later pie crust I thought this smells like apple pie. After a few sips the nose took on a weird funk like the caramel and chocolate had morphed into a stronger bowl of stewed fruit. Sweet but musty. Not in a bad way but something I’ve not nosed in a bourbon before. Was more like a single malt nose like the benromach 15. And then the apple pie crust comes back. The flavors are just pouring out of the glass. It seems like no two noses are exactly the same. With a few sips in the candied fruit starts to shine on the nose but I don’t taste it until the back palate. Body: medium to full and mouth coating. It actually builds in the first few moments in your mouth like it crescendos and then very slowly fades. Palate: this first sip brought so many thoughts about flavors, like a burst of flavors that my initial impression was just wow. There’s a lot going on. Little cinnamon, chocolate, plum or aged grape. Reminds me of champagne in the grape department. Candied fruit on the back palate. Later gooey caramel. Finish: very long, smoky and spicy. Really good. Note #2) this is an excellent and distinctive bourbon. I think if a person likes whiskey with an aged profile like the stewed fruits, like the powerful caramel and a long finish this is a terrific dram. The cost is going to make it prohibitive to many that should taste it because it is a different take on standard bourbon. It succeeded. It met my expectations and I have no regrets with the emotional adventure buying this bottle took me on. I’ll share this with my discerning whiskey friends. Oh that nose is so good.