Carole Smith
May 25, 2026, 23:10:48
Popped the cork on this dark gold number and immediately got hit with lovely coffee notes, but then it shifts—way more multidimensional profile than I expected. Quite magnificent, honestly. 🥃 First nose is weirdly like apple juice, then suddenly all on oranges and ginger, very fresh. There’s something reminiscent of Scotch malt at the edges, lemony, and it just goes on for ages. A long finish with this light varnish hint, which sounds odd but works. Mouthfeel is thicker than some bourbons I’ve had. It’s a lovely little beast, almost a Scottish bourbon if that makes sense. Few aromatic herbs drift in, along with mosses and ferns—earthy but bright. It’s less sweet than you’d think, vanilla’s tucked way back. More complex than your usual bourbon, very powerful. A bit hot, but that just adds character. Beautiful citrus notes everywhere, then a faint touch of coconut milk at the tail. Well-balanced, with toffee peeping through all sorts of citrus. Proper dram, this.