Dark Arts Whiskey House "Blunt Blend": Straight Rye Whiskey finished in a Madeira Cask and in a Armagnac Cask

Batch #: 2 Bottle #: 4502 Regardless, even with infinite space, I can't praise Dark Arts enough. I recently had the chance to visit and sample from their incredibly vast and impressive selection, and while I wanted to buy several bottles, their current pricing prevents that, which is one of the few areas they still need to perfect. I could talk for ages about this... whiskey establishment? I suppose it's not a distillery if they don't make or distill anything themselves, but the focus is this amusing twist on a cigar blend, as the owner prefers cannabis to tobacco. I've had other cigar blend whiskeys, mostly bourbon, and even after searching online, they don't really follow any consistent rules besides barrel finishing being a shared trait. This, however, offers so many welcome distinctions from the start, including a substantial age statement for this market, barrel proof, two distinct barrel finishes, and the best damn rye mash bill ever conceived (confirmed to be sourced from MGP, masters of the famous 95/5, which is even listed on the bottle, possibly the first American whiskey I've seen with the mash bill displayed). Add to that a very personal bottle and label design (the "DANK ARTS" side label was initially misread, and I love the distinct change for this batch), and you have a product that genuinely introduces something novel and distinct to the increasingly monotonous American whiskey scene and its bland choices. A deep color shows in the glass, which isn't unexpected given the double finish at cask strength. Still, the mahogany and deep brown/red hue is distinctive and easily noticeable, even from a distance. I haven't tried madeira or armagnac on their own before, but even with a basic knowledge of them and their typical flavor profiles, I can only detect those specific notes on the nose, not the base rye. This includes cooked cherries and a general nuttiness, along with grape must, rich cinnamon/baking spices, and a surprising and pleasant mix of fresh greens (and perhaps some cucumber). The proof signals its strength but doesn't sting or repel the nose; instead, it feels quite inviting. The taste starts with a touch of sweet, sour, and botanically spiced wine (there's the madeira) before quickly reaching the palate to present the bold cinnamon and mint characteristic of MGP 95/5 rye. Once that settles, the subtly tart grape must emerges, nicely introducing the armagnac notes. Other subtle flavors are hard to discern as the proof increases the heat and requires patience to adjust to. After some time, though, the finish reverts to a combination of the finishing barrels, leaving a general sweetness and keeping the spice from the rye subdued. Ultimately, this is just as unique a blend as almost all of Dark Arts' other offerings. Even though they don't distill or age anything themselves, this new approach of finishing and experimenting with readily available and typically inexpensive contract distillery products is a huge breath of fresh air in the saturated whiskey market, and is always welcome on my collection. While this certainly won't be my last purchase from Dark Arts, as their pricing needs time to become competitive, it won't deter me from making the 200+ mile round trip to visit their amazing lounge and not only support the brand but also savor the most flavorful selection I've ever encountered at any bar or "whiskey house."

Beautifully finished dessert rye. Plenty of complexity from the 8 years for a juice bomb. Long casky wine/grape flavor, lingering candy-like mouthfeel.