Cirka Whisky no2

Smell: Corn candy and vanilla are immediately noticeable. The sauternes impact then emerges with hints of green grapes, pears, apricot, and a distinct mineral quality (flint). The barrel impact is subtle, featuring spices like cinnamon and cloves, accompanied by a solid measure of brown sugar. It seems a bit immature, but it has improved significantly since first opened (bottle is half empty). It's surprisingly intricate when examined closely. WITH WATER (0.75 tsp): The aroma becomes much sweeter, dominated by honey, vanilla, and brown sugar. The barrel and wine finish notes seem to have vanished. Taste: Less sweet and balanced than the aroma, unfortunately. It's somewhat indistinct initially, making the notes hard to discern. It presents a waxy character with a strong brown sugar note right away. It then turns slightly tart from the wine finish, though the fruit is not very pronounced (but still present). It's also surprisingly spicy, given the aroma, with prominent cinnamon and cloves. An unusual coffee/earthy note stands out but somehow works. WITH WATER: Much better balance. Corn candy is now the primary note, alongside brown sugar and vanilla, and the other flavors are better integrated (significantly less tart, the earthy note seems gone). It also has a buttery and spicy character (again, cinnamon and cloves). Regrettably, the wine finish recedes, becoming less prominent, but light notes of apricot and flint remain. Finish: Corn candy, cinnamon, vanilla, and the wine finish elements (primarily flint and apricot) are the dominant flavors in the finish. It's a medium-length, medium-intensity finish, yet still quite complex. WITH WATER: Very similar here, slightly longer and leaning towards traditional corn whiskey characteristics. Perhaps a hint of orange that wasn't there initially. Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light for the 48% ABV. I anticipated more residual oils, given it's non-chillfiltered, but there seem to be only a small amount. WITH WATER: The texture somehow became fuller (never witnessed that before) and much oilier. Overall: This is a decent whiskey. It's a respectable second attempt from one of Quebec's few craft distilleries. Perhaps the initial proof is a bit too high (unsure, though). Additionally, 4 years for corn whiskey feels a bit short (though sufficient for rye), and I believe it would greatly benefit from at least two more years of aging. HOWEVER, adding water dramatically altered everything, enhancing the whiskey across the board. I've never observed this in a non-single malt. This raises the score by 0.5 to 3.75. Clearly, adding water to this whiskey is almost essential.

First tasting, rough estimate.