Fremont Mischief Urban Foraged Marion Blackberry Apple Brandy

Rating: 17/23 I anticipated this would be sweet, almost liqueur-like, but the marionberry actually provides a full richness that adds a new dimension to the brandy, giving it a more mature impression. There's now a distinct vegetal note from the marionberry seed, and it also contributes tannins that resemble barrel aging. The underlying dry sweetness from the apple brandy remains. I'm uncertain if I enjoy this quite as much as the standard apple brandy. The apple brandy seems like a more cohesive product, whereas this doesn't strongly taste of marionberry and has an unusual vegetal quality. It's still very good, though, placing it in the 16 to 17 range. It's solidly complex and flavorful, so the main question is whether any flavors seem out of place. I believe I'll settle on a 17, but it's a close call.