Smells of oak, cola, and toffee. The taste is almost sweet with flavors of molasses, maple syrup, caramel, and vanilla. The finish is dry and warming, featuring notes of oak, vanilla, and bitter chocolate. Overall a much bolder and woodier whisky than the Fine De Luxe, a bit more bitter throughout as well. For a sipping drink I’d rather have the original, though this should stand out more in cocktails.
A Whisky Sour is smooth and balanced, but with stronger oak and vanilla notes in the finish. Very tasty.
A 1:1:1 Washington Apple is smooth, with cranberry, vanilla, and green apple notes, in that order, but this whisky didn’t stand out as much as I thought it would. 2:1:1 is indeed more whisky forward, but I actually think better balanced for whatever reason. The “shot” recipe is cranberry and vanilla up front with oak and a faint whisper of green apple underneath. Ultimately Difford’s 1.5:1:1 seems to be the most balanced with this spirit; strange how finicky this cocktail is.
A Black Crown and Cola is similar; cola up front with oaky vanilla underneath. A splash of lemon juice adds a touch of bright citrus but doesn’t actually diminish any of the other flavors.
A Manhattan is fruity and lightly peppery up front, with jammy berries, vanilla, and oak underneath. Very complex yet nonchalantly smooth.
An Old Fashioned is spicy, sweet, with hints of orange up front and a peppery vanilla, oak, and bitters finish. Perfectly balanced and endlessly complex.