The Joseph Magnus story is interesting if you like history. I’ve always enjoyed Joseph Magnus casually so thought I should finally give it a proper review. Pour was neat in glencairn, fresh cracked bottle, let glass sit for a long while before diving into it. Nose - is fantastic and a lot of complexity. It has dark dried fruit probably most closely associate to raisin, caramel, vanilla frosting, oak, pepper, little bit of nuttiness like maybe a toasted walnut or almond, hint of cherry, little bit of sweet tobacco. It definitely evolved as it sat and was swirled. When did a heavy swirl the drier notes were more prominent then if just let it sit. Palate - again a lot of complexity but the palate may come across a little more reserved than the nose would suggest. Some caramel and raisin sweetness very quick on the front, chocolate and maybe a little bit of that vanilla frosting as well. Mid palate and back palate is interesting. The mid palate goes dry; I would assume that the oloroso sherry barrels used for one of the finishing barrels were using a dry grape because get a lot of dry wine sherry quality, dry dark fruit, some nuttiness and a lot of oak. Back palate brings the pepper, oak hangs on, just a hint of dark chocolate, and leather. Has a really nice viscosity, little bit of an oily quality and coats the mouth well. Finish - short to moderate finish, those dry notes are the most prominent flavors, oak, dried fruit, pepper, get just a little teaser of sweetness trying to jump back in the mix. Finish overall is subtle. This is one honestly that you’re just gonna have to try, depending on your palate and the finishing in three different barrels there’s just so many flavors that could jump out at you. This pour was different than other glasses I’ve had of Joseph Magnus. In other pours I’ve gotten a sweeter palate that lasts longer. This went dry pretty quick but will be curious to see how this opens up as this was a fresh cracked bottle. If you don’t like a dry wine or sherry flavor then maybe steer clear as these do tend to run $80-$110 a bottle retail, and if that’s not a flavor you’re familiar with this may come across bitter in the mid palate. This has a lot of complexity though and some really great flavors. It’s not an everyday sipper, something that I’d bring out for special occasion or to sharpen the taste buds every now and then, or if someone was a tried and true bourbon or dry wine fan probably pull this out to see what they think. This is something I’ll always have stocked at my house, big fan of Joseph Magnus.