BATCH NOTES from the distiller: "Spirits distilled from grain & flavored with hops This is Fort George Brewery's Belgian IPA beer wash Double pot distilled, Aged in second-fill rye whiskey barrels, Aged 4.5 years." Nose: strongly fragrant and floral hops, Belgian candi syrup, notable rye spice and mint. Palate: initial caramel and sweet/fruity/estery malt notes (a la Westward's yeast) rye barrel is noticeable here too with herbal/minty character. Hops shine here as well with a nice grapefruity citrus character and bits of pine/cedar/evergreen forest. They taste less like hops do in beer and more like freshly crushed hop pellets in your hands. Finish: slightly numbing, slightly bitter. A bit of lingering caramel sweetness, licorice, and chewy malt.