Rating: 15/23 I'm curious to see how the higher proof affects this. I found that the lower proof was a bit weak flavor-wise (likely due to the young age), but was also too tannic. Also, how the oats play in here. N: This smells less sweet. I actually get a bit of a tart nose here that I think I should be able to associate with some fruit, but that just isn't happening. Wood, some sweetness that has a hint of chocolate. I enjoy the wood's mustiness. P: Yeah, this packs a lot more of a punch than the lower proof one did. There's a hint of fruit this time that is kind of interesting. Is's almost faintly like...apricot? There is plenty of wood (sawdust) for sure here and there's more burn than in the lower proof version. I definitely get allspice with a bit of chocolate. There isn't a ton going on here, but it is fortunately less tannic than the lower proof version I tried. This isn't as sweet as my bottle of Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength and the corn and sawdust don't show through as much either. I'd say that the Garrison Brothers is more complex and nuanced, whereas this is bolder with maybe a bit of creaminess from the oats. F: Mercifully, not overwhelmed by over-steeped tea (though it is definitely pushing it). I get a faint hint of apricot remaining and also the same wood with chocolate. - Conclusion - I miss the sweetness and grain of the lower proof offering from Kings County and from Garrison Brothers. The richness here is nice and I'm glad that it's comparatively less tannic than its lower proof cousin, but it's a bit lacking in sweetness and complexity. For a bit of a hedonistic diversion though, this is OK. With all of its rich chocolate, it does remind me a fair amount of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520. Kings County is on the right track in that it makes me think of such a terrific bourbon, but this just doesn't have the same complexity. It's tough to rate this one. I appreciate the pure hedonistic sippability of the chocolate flavor, but at the same time the tannins are borderline overwhelming and the complexity is just not there. Although I did compare this with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 (which I scored a 22) that was essentially a statement that they both have a nice rich chocolatey flavor. I think that this one needs a lot of work to get to that level. Still, Kings County has some good flavors in this barrel. Roughly two of them, so they've got some work to do when it comes to getting more complexity into their drams and taming the tannins. I seriously considered giving this a 14 and I vaguely, briefly thought that it might be better than a 15. I think though that 15 is the right score here. Thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for sharing this sample - it's exciting to see the potential of what Kings County can produce!