Cola colored. What does the good @pkingmartin have up his sleeve this time? Nose screams high rye whiskey - but is it? Cola, vanilla, thyme, cedar, mint, raisin. Maybe a bit if sea salt and mesquite? Is this sherried? Does that explain the color? The ethanol singe suggests a higher proof but only rye in virgin oak or a sherry cask finish could explain the depth of color. If this was a rye whiskey in virgin oak I would expect more, well, oak. Hot and strong mesquite notes. This has to be Texas. Balcones. That’s my guess. I’ve not had Garrisons outside of Cowboy but this ain’t wheat. There’s an Oloroso nuttiness and slight sulfur note. Lots of cola. I don’t know about this one but would guess a barrel-finished Balcones based on my one experience with a single barrel, barrel proof sample courtesy of @ghill40509. That would also mean this is an American, dare a Texas malt and not a rye whiskey at all. And now the moment of truth…. WTF is Penderyn?? Single malt. Single cask, cask strength. Matured in a series of Buffalo trace and recharged European (French?) oak barrels. I stand by my Balcones comparison and 4-5 TX years seem equivalent to 13 years in Wales. Something about this just doesn’t work for me. It is unique. It is tasty. I think I’m just the odd one out in that this combination of particular malt, barrels and sherry influence… just is r something I can really place. I think most of all it’s the sulfur that turns me off but I believe I’m genetically susceptible to it and still struggle a bit with Joseph Magnus triple cask finish. I like that one more (thanks to the sweeter, corn based distillate). Tally is that 3 out of 4 whisky drinkers will be impressed, the fourth will scratch their head and swear a bit but walk away more well rounded.