Copper Fox Port Style Barrel Finish Single Malt Whiskey

Score: 17/23 Nose: Charred wood with a barbecue essence, not meaty though. Offers a fruit wood scent with significant ashiness and underlying sweetness. It presents a surprising herbal character and astringency from smoky tannins. Fruit scents are present, though not very sweet, perhaps blackcurrant and tart cherry. Taste: Immediate ashy smoke, accompanied by distinct fruit notes like cherry, plum, and blackberry, plus baking spices and herbs. It's complex and bold, yet somewhat indulgent. Beyond the ash, its flavor profile is highly desirable. Surprisingly minimal malt presence, suggesting this distillery's malt might not be very flavorful, possibly due to recent consumption of other malts. The spirit doesn't indicate its high proof, with a noticeable bite but not one suggesting extremely high alcohol content. Rich vanilla notes are also detected. Finish: Rich with herbs, a hint of nuttiness, and more malty sweetness than initially perceived, along with some pepper. Black cherry, blackberry, and plum notes reappear. - Conclusion - The distinctive smoky flavor is reminiscent of a certain young, smoked rye, though it is more effective here. Its unique, complex character is appealing. It also brings to mind another spirit that was smoked with fruit wood. That one offered less sourness and greater complexity. While the boldness here is appreciated, the other spirit is preferred. Another spirit with a similar ashiness also presented a sweeter syrupy quality. That spirit could be described as more indulgent. The herbaceousness and tartness of this current spirit become more apparent in comparison. This is a truly interesting pour with enough character to warrant a 17, but it is not the most pleasant to drink.