Stranahan's Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt

02.2022 - Idaho Barrel Pick. Thought the high proof would kill the flavor, but it finishes so nice and sweet. Great aroma and initial taste kept me going back for more.

VA-ABC 18-0693 Barrel. Golden copper with amber hues. Lots of legs appear very slowly. Nose of golden raisins, toasted white bread, light caramel, faint notes of milk chocolate, and a hint of spice, and vanilla pudding. Reminiscent of a caramel malted milkshake. Soft on the palate, there's a nice note of caramelized pear tart upfront, along with carmel and malted barley syrup. It warms the mouth quickly, resulting in an early peak of spice, dry oak and a bit of heat that pulls away from the initial sweetness. Medium to long finish, it's interesting and easy to drink for a cask strength offering. I like this enough to buy another bottle to stash. It's like a marriage of bourbon and a Speyside Scotch. There's plenty of barrel contribution for a 6 year old, from both the oak and the char, yet it's not short in any way on the subtle delight of malted barley. I wish I could give this a 3.9... still closer to a 4 than a 3.75 though

Very smooth, grainy sweetness, graham cracker, honey with lingering heat. No burn at all