Age: NAS, but allegedly 7-9 years old Mashbill: Buffalo Trace #1 (allegedly 75% corn, 10% rye, 15% malted barley) Abv: 65.95% Setting: Neat in a Glencairn, with a fat basset hound snoozing next to me Nose: Black cherry, vanilla, brown sugar, ethanol, caramel, oak, maple syrup, cinnamon. Really interesting and complex nose – I pick up a different aroma every time I inhale. (24/25 points) Taste: Cherries, cough syrup, cinnamon, dark chocolate, raisins, caramel. Very thick mouthfeel. Good, but it packs a wallop. (42/50 points) Finish: Long and warm. The rye shows up. (21/25) points) Conclusion: I liked this, but I didn’t love it the same way some people here do. Batch 9 is complex, and therefore interesting, but it also comes across as harsh at times. It reminds me of Eagle Rare dialed up to 11, with the same strong cherry and cough syrup flavors, which is not surprising given that it’s the same mash bill. It’s definitely worth trying – there aren’t that many whiskies sold at a proof this high – and I intend to buy a bottle if I do stumble across one. 87/100