Nant Bourbon Cask

Nose: Malt, vanilla, a little honey, Danish pastry, baked banana, caramel, roasted nuts, mild spice notes, and some subtle oak. Fresh fruits emerge as it rests - particularly honeydew melon, and there's a note of white grape juice and sauternes. It's an enchanting aroma that compels repeated sniffs. [The dry-glass aroma is honey and malt]. Palate: An interesting and unusual arrival where the cask dictates the initial taste. Oak is immediately apparent, both as a woody character and as tannins, but it's not at all astringent. The progression is very distinct with notes of dark dry fruits (dates, figs), vanilla, malt, cereal, citrus, honey, and mint appearing almost as if arranged in sequence. The texture is full, but not heavy, with a mouth-coating quality. Finish: Medium. The central malt and dark fruit character fades into a lightly spiced toffee and orange zest aftertaste. There is a lingering minty note. The aroma is full, rich, and very satisfying. It reminded me of some non-sherried Scottish whiskies, particularly bourbon-matured Glencadam. It is an interesting malt and unusual in its structure. At first pour, it might seem simple and two-dimensional, although of high quality; however, over time, this profile develops a more complex and well-balanced presentation. It has a seductive quality, and there is something very pleasant about its particular combination of deep malty aromas and flavors, honeyed-citrus, and bright cinnamon-oak spice. Adding water reveals some light floral tones but doesn't significantly enhance the palate. I'd suggest drinking this neat, especially as it is so soothing and easy to consume. Tasted from a 30ml sample. The standard price for this whisky is US$110 for a 500ml bottle, making it quite expensive. However, in this instance, I would say the expense is justified (just barely). This is a nice whisky that falls slightly short of 4 stars. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars).

Tasted as part of a flight of six whiskies at my favorite bar. This excellent dram from Tasmania, Australia, is a straightforward spirit with notes of vanilla and malt, possessing good strength for its lower alcohol content. It was among the better ones sampled tonight.