Upon first nosing I immediately detect stewed cherries and spice, with equal parts sweet and tart to the fruit, also a good hit of alcohol but without any harshness or burn. Further nosing and I get red apple skins, cloves, ginger, just a hint of rye, rose water, and finally charred sugar maple. On the tongue it’s a bit like cherry cough syrup at first. As the sugary sweetness fades, the spice starts to emerge with cayenne pepper and ginger taking the lead. Red apples and plums briefly appear, followed by an orange citrus tinge. The body is pretty good, syrupy but not too heavy. The legs are extremely slow to develop, and very thin and quick at the start, but then a delicate string of beads rims the glass and hangs on for quite a while before dispersing. The finish is very mildly dry and oaky, nutty, and somewhat short. There’s slightly bitter cocoa, and a final note of cherry pie. Over ice everything becomes muted and rounded, the finish is more strawberry rhubarb than cherry, and a bit of mint comes out at the very end. Nose: 9 Taste: 8 Body: 9 Finish: 8