Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon

Harsh upfront but as it opens up one of the best out there

Much longer review I was writing just disappeared so this is the summary - it is a flavor boomerang. You get WRs signature cereal/limestone/sharp earthy aroma with more toasted grain notes and a warm, typical WR palate. The finish seems timid at first and then 4-6 seconds later when you think it’s faded you get a wave of cocoa nibs and faint leather. It’s amazing. It’s all about the finish - and the cocoa lasts for minutes. Christmas dram for me, and an excellent one at that!

Nutty, toasted oaky flavors. A little dry with a burn half way down my throat. I like it.

I like

Very interesting. Would put as an example of unique, high quality American whiskey. Rivaling equally-priced options from Scotland.

The chocolate is not flavoring, which some have thought when I tell them about this, but happened as part of the distilling process. For me, I smell butter, wood, and some leather with mild sweetness on the nose, and the same on the taste. The finish is a very subtle cocoa nib / chocolate after the exhale, not super sweet and seems just right.