Bakery Hill Double Wood Single Malt

Aroma: Smells of apricot juice, prune juice, malt, and honeydew melon. Numerous sweet, fruity, and syrupy scents are present, giving it a rich quality. There are also some subdued leathery and spicy notes that become more prominent over time. Palate: A sweet yet somewhat stony initial taste, with malt at its core, surrounded by firm, almost hard flavors. After the overtly sweet and fruity aroma, the first sip is a bit surprising, but it makes sense considering the influence of French oak. While there isn't much development, distinct notes of marmalade and golden syrup emerge and become excessively dominant. Finish: Medium to short. Golden syrup and malt are the final impressions, with a slight metallic bitterness in the aftertaste. This drink's aroma suggests sweetness, but the taste is drier than anticipated, though not unpleasant. The finish is a bit short. Tasting this immediately after another expression made it seem less impressive. I'm curious about the specific type of French oak used, perhaps refill ex-sherry casks? They don't have the character of virgin casks. My conclusion is that this brand's spirits need a higher alcohol content to fully express themselves. I wonder how this particular expression would taste at a significantly higher proof. At its current strength (still 46%), everything I've sampled from them seems to lack presence. The aroma was, for me, the highlight. While the palate was good, the golden syrup note was too strong, making it somewhat one-dimensional. I find it similar to their standard offering, essentially a variation on the same theme. Neither compares to their higher proof expression, which not only offers more intensity but also greater complexity. Rating: 79/100 (2.75 stars)

This drink was second in my flight of whiskies at the distillery with the founder. He began aging casks 18 years ago, starting with 50 liter, then 100 and now the standard 200 size, unchanged from the Jack Daniels distillery where currently sourced. Initially they went a third each way with Heaven Hill, Woodfords and JD but now I believe they stick with the latter. This drink they finish in French oak for several months (if I recall). I really enjoyed this drink, the French oak adding additional richness and spiciness, caramel coming through and the green apple fading away. He mentioned that other than this one they are ex-bourbon / American oak casking all the way and don't do sherry etc finishing. Would be interesting to see them try though.

Pleasant aroma of dried fruit (apricot-like) and a hint of dark chocolate. Smooth palate with a mellow fruitcake flavor. The primary drawback was a nearly absent finish.