Bull Run 13yr Pinot Noir Finished

Marked 14 out of 23. I grabbed this on impulse. It wasn't costly, had a 13 year and 7 month age statement, and seemed somewhat intriguing. I recall this being a light spirit, but the bottle offers no details, so I'd need to verify. It's certainly light for an American whiskey of 13 years, especially with a 7-month finishing period in pinot noir casks. The fruit is definitely present. It's like a strawberry note with a subtle base and a faint floral quality, then it shifts to a peppery character with a funk similar to chicken breast roasted too hot for not quite enough time. It's funky and interesting, but also slightly unpleasant. I also detect some dusty barrel notes, along with cinnamon and allspice, but the character of the land dominates the aroma. It's sweet and subtle, with a spicy undercurrent that adds significant depth and hits the back of my mouth. The initial taste is a light, somewhat creamy caramel with strawberry. Like strawberries that have been caramelized in milk. However, this isn't an overwhelmingly sweet drink. It leans sweet, but includes bitter elements. There's some earthy funkiness that gives a vibe of overly done PX, but thankfully it remains controlled and develops an oloroso oiliness to round out the profile. I would have easily assumed it was sherry-finished. Regardless, it's well-executed. Regarding the spices, I get a barrel richness combining cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, and clove. I'd prefer the individual spices to be more distinct, but it's quite good. I do get a slight meatiness, but it presents as fully cooked roast chicken breast. The alcohol is slightly noticeable alongside it, reminding me that the taste is a bit thin. The alcohol level seems appropriate. Given the alcohol presence, I don't want it stronger; yet, it's present enough not to feel weak. The strawberry milk flavor persists with some earthy funkiness and a subdued barrel influence that still completes the profile. There's still decent complexity, though it ends up a bit jumbled. Mostly, it's just a straightforward finish that carries the taste profile through. I briefly feared this might be difficult to drink, similar to Rabbit Hole Dereringer (rated 12/23), but thankfully that wasn't the case. It does come across as somewhat young and lacking in certain aspects, but it's engaging while being easy to sip. That young alcohol taste can be a bit challenging to overcome, though. It certainly limits this. It's more intricate than Elijah Craig Small Batch (rated 15/23), but has additional drawbacks. I lean towards thinking the Elijah Craig is superior. McIvor 17 (rated 16/23) is decidedly better than this. Four Roses Single Barrel (rated 15/23) seems comparable to this, approaching it from a spicy angle with some red fruits. However, this still has that young alcohol flavor, so I don't believe it's quite as good. I think this is a 14. It's solid and quite easy to sip, but the youthfulness is just a slight issue.

Opening - The scent has mint and tea tree, with caramel and vanilla in the background, some oak, and red fruits. Taste - Less rye than the aroma suggested, but it's present mid-palate. Dark fruits, cherry, mint, some dry tobacco, vanilla, baking spice, and an almost earthy quality. The mouthfeel is very dry. Finish - There's the Pinot, a dry tannic red wine finish, some barrel influence, bright fruits, vanilla, some spice, and an almost floral note. Overall, it's rather good. The aroma, taste, and finish are distinct experiences. A strong rye scent, but the rye is subtle in the taste; the fruits and spices come through instead. However, the finish is very Pinot Noir with barrel tannins and a drying sensation on the mouth, leaving that dark berry and cherry, oak lingering. It would be an excellent choice to pair with a steak.

Aroma: Notes of caramelized bananas, cinnamon rolls, honey-roasted almonds, dry dust, and cotton candy. Taste: Undertones of oak, dry orange peel, dry wine, with a light, buttery finish. The aroma and palate are mismatched; the nose is extremely sweet with char and sugar. The taste, while still sweet, is also mouth-puckeringly dry. The Pinot Noir influence is significant, leaving little beyond dry oak and a lengthy, pleasant finish that is light and buttery. The disparity between the nose and taste isn't inherently negative, but I'm somewhat let down after anticipating rich burnt sugars, only to encounter a dry, 'winy' flavor.

The aroma is amazing! I detect red berries, vanilla, cinnamon stick, brown sugar, and marshmallow. Cherry, red berries, graham crackers (or maybe more like golden grahams), caramel, and oak are on the palate. The finish is quite mild. It goes down easily. I feel like I just consumed raspberries and s’mores.

This was the first whiskey I finished, and I found it delightful. The thirteen years impart profound flavors, and the Pinot noir barrels contribute a subtle fruity sweetness. Outstanding.

Features Batch Number 012 and Bottle Number 01042.