Heaven's Door Exploration Series #1

Hello fellow whiskey enthusiasts. It has been a while since my last whiskey review. It feels good to return with the inaugural release from what appears to be a special collection by Heaven's Door. I approach limited edition Heaven's Door releases with some caution. Reviewing their past offerings, it seems they generally perform "above average" as a distillery. The aroma on this bottling is dominated by somewhat astringent, burnt oak. Additionally, there's a touch of warm cinnamon and brown sugar, along with a subtle suggestion of fruit. Possibly candied apples? The taste starts out sweet and mild but then reveals intense spice. Briefly, the flavor resembles sweet, bready cinnamon pastry, but it's immediately overtaken by a mouth-numbing cinnamon blast. The finish of the taste is quite dry, featuring leather and more of that slightly burnt oak detected on the nose. The finish continues the dry, astringent notes from the back of the palate. There might be a slight hint of apple present, but it's difficult to discern beyond the leather, burnt oak, and peppercorns. This bourbon is considerably drier and spicier than I would typically enjoy, but it offers a unique experience at least.