Barrell 18 Yr Whiskey Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauternes Barrels

Rose gold

A fistful of gummy bears with a whole jumble of different fruit notes. They start bright and simple: green apple, peach, cranberry. With time, they soften and commingle with the whiskey revealing pina colada, key lime pie, and Christmas fruitcake. Beneath all the exuberant honey and eucalyptus lies a trace of umami.

Sauternes has tugged the profile in the direction of honey, Mirabelle plum, and pollen. The oak is unobtrusive and allows a creamy, mellow distillate to predominate in the form of coconut milk, roasted chestnut, and Belgian Tripel-style beer. A touch of acidity reinforces notes of fresh apple and watermelon candy to keep it tasting bright.

Fresher fruit notes like Rainier cherry, white currant, and gooseberry. There’s a bit of resin lingering, the hops from that Tripel, a kiss of gentian, and a wisp of incense. As the fruit evaporates, it leaves behind the mineral prickle of chalk.

With a splash of spring water:

The whiskey really starts to show its age here, gaining depth and an expanding earthy side. The fruits appear paradoxically more concentrated, such as apricot jam, golden raisin and orange creamsicle. The palate, no longer checked by heat, is almost liqueur-like in thickness. The cabernet notes float to the fore as hibiscus, pomegranate, and plum paste. Black pepper and graphite also bridge the gap between wine and whiskey.