ABV 45%
I liked this spicy, oaky number. Any longer in a cask and it would be too dry, but this was big, bold and brash!
Joel Harrison
Old Fitzgerald
Brand
Very Special Reserve
Expression
Bourbon
Type
No age statement
Age (Years)
2016
Year of Bottling
45%
ABV
Kentucky
Region/Country
Standard (Distillery or blended)
Bottling Type
Taster
Nose: Very big and meaty, but with some juicy red berry fruit notes. Think venison cooked with plums and cooking apples. Real quality whiskey making here.\n
Palate: Delicious palate, just dry enough, taking influence from the wood without losing an energy to the flavours. This could be sipped as well as mixed. Versatile flavours.
Finish: Fascinating, tastes almost exactly like a Sazerac cocktail. Some star anise, cherry and sweet sugar.\n
Comment: I liked this spicy, oaky number. Any longer in a cask and it would be too dry, but this was big, bold and brash!
Score: 9.1
Taster
Nose: Complex, intense, pungent dark treacle, huge spices and an Armagnac rancio of dark pruney fruit. Tart citrus, dark chocolate, coffee, dusty violets and thick, well-behaved oak.
Palate: Light and elegant with juicy, chunky, raisinated Armagnac fruit. So succulent with leather, tobacco, smoke and violets. Drying dark chocolaty tannins come through on the middle.\n
Finish: Intense, herbal marc-like notes and eye-wateringly, biting, bitter chocolate. Treacle and restrained oak balance.\n
Comment: Monstrous but elegant and complex. What would it have been like at cask strength?!
Score: 9.6
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