Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Nose: Cherry Danish! Berries and buttery pastry. Butterscotch praline, a little vanilla (but not much), cedarwood cigar box, orange marmalade. The woody notes are prominent but very light - more pencil-shavings than cask. Overall it's a very round, warm and inviting nose. Water opens it up but keeps the profile intact, with a little loss of impact. Palate: At first very soft and sweet, then becoming as hot and dry as dust on the palate - you can almost feel it sucking the moisture from your tongue, it's so dry and oily-spicy. Like clove oil and walnut oil poured over tobacco leaves and seasoned with freshly grated ginger and pine-tree resin. A taste of over-brewed tea. It borders on unpleasant, but then it backs off and softens into a creamy and full-bodied flavour with honey and a touch of anise. For pity's sake - add water! (see below). Finish: An evolving, complex and sweet finish, like the calm after the storm. Rye bread spices fade into a soft finale, but without any trace of bitterness or sourness. I found this to be an "interesting" experience neat, but frankly it tasted unfinished and hot. The addition of water initially brought out a spiky spiciness (to be expected) but as the dilution increased everything started to fall into place, and eventually the penny dropped. This needs man-sized dilution - not just a dash of water, a really good pour - have no fear, this stuff could swim through a hurricane. In fact, it's actually one of the rare whiskies that I'd suggest trying neat over a few rocks. Taken down to under 40% everything starts to knit together to produce a cohesive and subtle experience that is a real surprise and delight. As the abv is taken down the aromas and flavours carried on the alcohol are released and allowed to perform as the stars they are. Tropical fruits are encountered on the palate along with delicate spiced honeysuckle. Complexity is apparent that was previously obscured, and the finish becomes long, smooth as silk, and extremely seductive. "Very Good" : 85/100 (4 stars)