Nice depth of spice here on the nose, heavy with cloves, barrel char, and anise. After the initial rush fades, a big barbecue beef quality takes hold, laced heavily with black pepper. While intensely savory on the nose, the whiskey shows its sweeter side on the palate, which features classic overtones of vanilla, maple, and brown butter. Hints of coconut emerge late in the game along with a bold cinnamon and nutmeg note. Red fruits, some dried, kick in for the finish, which is medium in length but the sweetest part of the experience, almost like vanilla cake frosting. It’s a different animal than the 6 year old, but, again, these are single barrels with more variability than you might expect. 118 proof.
