Blantons Straight From The Cask

Single barrel (#195)

Nose: I can really get on board with this. It smells thick. Maple syrup, almost like an extremely high quality spiced dark/navy rum. Stewed prunes and figs. Heavy, dark caramel covered apples. I'm not going to drink this. It's too amazing. (with water) More fruit comes out, and the water clarifies the deeper notes, if that makes sense. The syrup and spiced are brought into greater relief. It's top-notch. I may prefer this slightly neat, but at this point, it's splitting hairs.

Palate: Syrup, maple, wood, spice (cinnamon, cardamom, touch of anise). Unsurprisingly a little warm, but that's a-ok by me. Maybe green apple or apple skins. Just explosive and awesome stuff. Very dense. Not the easiest sipper, but the best things don't have to be. (with water) More honey and straight, obvious rye grain and sweetness. Syrup+pepper, wood, and a great kick still.

Finish: Perfectly balanced sweetness with the wood to brace it. It turns a bit to pipe tobacco juice, ashy cigars, maple syrup, and more spiced navy rum in the backyard. Dark cherries, why not? (with water) Rye, wood, sticky syrup -- no trend here -- a bit of heat and pepper. I'm not sure; I wandered into a bourbon induced hazy dream.

This is one of those rare bourbons for me that I not only love, but wish that I had bottles of. BOTTLES.

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