Redbreast Lustau Edition

Color: orange gold Nose: sugar cane, sweet sherry, oak, caramel Taste: spices, black pepper and honey, leather, wormwood bitterness and some alcohol. Overall very pleasant. Finish: sharpish peppery burn, not too long, some oil on tongue Glass: Iittala Pisararengas / Sarpaneva

Heavy wood and fruit on the nose, with the familiar buttery, shortbread-like, slight vanilla. The overall effect reminds me of rhubarb pie. The first taste that stuck me was the strong pepper at the back of the throat and up the nose, which took me yourself by surprise. I had just tried the very mellow 12 and was expecting more of the same. Similar slightly sweet buttery notes, but overlaid with fig, and citrus. I was surprised to learn that the Lustau is 2 years younger than the 12. It's more complex, interesting, and overall enjoyable.

N: Smokey peat and floral notes P: Creamy vanilla pudding into some light baking spice F: Dry wine and oak