Whiskey Del Bac Dorado Mesquite Smoked Single Malt

The nose is a wonderful mix of being fruity, oaky, smokey and sweet of vanilla. It is very enticing, as it is clearly malt whiskey but with some unique qualities. There is a bit of leather and a bit of brine, but with each visit you can keep pulling out something different. It ends up coming across as a rich dessert. The palate is somewhat rich but very chewy, that starts out with being fruity, oaky and smokey, but then transforms into being very chewy and full of vanilla, brine, smoke and some delicious sweetness. The finish is long and chewy, I has the whole palate comes together to fade very nicely which doesn't happen too often. Usually there is a dominant flavor that lingers on the palate however, with this the whole thing hangs out and takes its time. This is wonderful and a lovely experience for American single malt whiskey. In this case, the fewer the words the better about this, because it's simply good.

Decent flavor and finish with a good amount of smoke in the flavor

90 proof, tasted neat. Copper color and good coating legs in the glass. Nose is wood smoke, char, and sweet grain, light vanilla, and just a hint of chili pepper spice. Mesquite smoke like a bbq/smoked piece of meat in the mouth. Leather and vanilla oak over the top of sweet grain cereal and spicy sweet grass. Rich and full and mouth coating, with some ethanol warmth. Finish shows the light astringincy of that smoke and oak, as well as light baking spices, saline, and sweet charred chiles. Long and tingling and coating. An ice cube smooths and makes this drink sweeter, less spicy... but the mesquite remains. This really hits all my preferences--the smoke, sweet grain, and spice. Hate to say, I like the mesquite as much (or more) than peat. Maybe that's my western prejudice and scent memories--mesquite smoke hanging in cold winter air. Or maybe I'm just used to peat, tired of it, appreciating something similar but new and assertive. I'm guessing others won't like this as much for that reason, and that's ok. Gotta know what you like and your own biases. For me, this is a familiar terroir statement, and I don't see what others call artificial smoke flavors. It's breaking new ground (alongside Balcones), and it's a good American single malt whiskey.

If you like imitation smoke, bitter spiciness, and a burn in your gut, you might like this.