ASW Fiddler Cask Strength Toasted Bourbon (Wheated)

Nose: Brown sugar, caramel, dark cherry, oak Palate: A brief hint of vanilla before quickly shifting to baking spices Finish: Medium ASW's Fiddler Toasted Bourbon uses their Heartwood wheated bourbon (51% Corn/45% Wheat/4% Fotaged Malted Barley) and finishes it in various new toasted white oak barrels. Combining different levels of toasted barrels for finishing mirrors their method of using various levels of char barrels in their aging. Personally, the nose is classic and sweet; I was surprised to discover it's a wheated mash bill given the spice on the back palate and finish, which is long-lasting and consistent with its cask strength bottling (the one I sampled was 115 proof, but this can vary by batch.) This is one of the more satisfying toasted bourbons I've encountered recently.

Toasted char 1 and 3, 60% aged for 22 months, 40% aged for 8 weeks. Nose: Intense smoke, grassy. Palate: Smoke, berry, nutty, more smoke on the finish, overwhelming.

Too harsh to find enjoyable. It's not just the burn, the flavor itself isn't good.