CLERMONT STEEP ASM *NOSE: I'm not sure what was intended by naming this whiskey "Steep", but the first note to jump out of the glass is Freshly Brewed Tea. For me, American Single Malts (ASM's) fall into two camps 1) Tea (ex. Rúa) or 2) Coffee (ex. Westland). This goes squarely in the Tea category. There's also Fruit, Leather, Lumber/Fresh Sawdust, and Cream o' Wheat Hot Cereal. There's a Maple & Brown Sugar Sweetness that builds the longer it sits, but this is definitely not an overly sweet nose. *NEAT: This is one of those Whiskies where the nose transfers almost note for note to the palate. Leathery, Malty, and Woody. Unsweetened Tea, Apple and just a smitch of Honey. Slightly Tannic & Drying with a Little Peppery Tingle. Finally shows it age with Oak Coating and Layering the Palate with a Longish, Slightly Spicy Finish. You're left with and aftertaste similar to what you get when you aggressively chew a toothpick. It eventually gets a Light Mustiness. *SPLASH: A Little Water Sweetens both the nose and palate, Upping the Brown Sugar/Maple and also adding Some Bitter Orange Peel. VERDICT: I wasn't sure of this one at first, but a couple pours in and it is really growing on me. That Musty Note that finally kicked in on the aftertaste definitely helped. I tend to get some off notes from certain ASM's (they do tend to be Craft Distillers), but I think the 5 Year Age Statement helps counteract some of those. ASM is its own animal. It's not Bourbon-y, nor is it Scotch-y. It has its own unique profile that is instantly recognizable and, if the TTB would get off their backside and do it, worthy of a category all its own. I can definitely see this being a repeat buy.