Arizona High Spirits Single Malt Mesquite Smoked

I've heard of Arizona High Spirits Distillery for some time now. Their claim to fame is "the world's only prickly pear flavored vodka". Well, my wife likes it....

Besides, I live in Arizona, so sampling a whiskey made right here in my home state is exiciting! AHSD has been marketing vodka and gin for the last 3 or 4 yrs, generating income while the whiskey sleeps and ages.... Vodka and gin pay the bills.

I must admit, I did have some trepidation when I ordered up this dram. On the one hand: "single malt mesquite smoked". Hmmm, that holds potential! An undiscovered smoke dimension waiting, unheralded? But, on the other hand, this is the very first experiment of a 3yo from the local prickly pear vodka guys....

Ok, on to it.

Nose: promising. That mesquite smokiness is almost Ardbeg-ish, very charcoal-y. Some burnt sugar and burnt grass too.

Palate: uh oh. Er, um, alright: this is terrible. White dog aged in an under-charred cask. Bland, like cheap Canadian whiskey, meaning grassy/antiseptic/EtOH burn. No, no, I have it: bland, like cheap aquavit (which my wife, gasp, also likes)

Finish: what finish...?

Sigh. Dissapointing. Surprisingly to me, this dram has received a couple positive reviews: "warming, inviting, glowing ember, very well done". Well, I suppose it's compelling to give positive reviews when you get a free bottle direct from the distiller.

Yes, this dram is only 3yo, but McCarthy's of Oregon is too, and it is much better. Maybe more time in a bourbon or PX butt will help. When the 10yo comes out in 7 years, I'll sample it too.