Oak & Eden Bourbon & Vine - Cabernet Steeped Oak

This might be my last taste from the Oak and Eden collection. It's been an interesting exploration, and let's see what this one offers. On the nose, we detect barrel char, which seems typical for the brand, followed by youthful whiskey notes of varnish and corn, along with some oak. But wait... what's this? A wine-like aroma of Concord grape and wine tannins. Okay, Oak and Eden, I acknowledge you. However, I must admit, some irritating ethanol pierces through, especially considering this is 90 proof. Just an observation. The palate begins with typical vanilla/caramel but has an intriguing berry compote note beneath. But wow, there's absolutely no mid-palate here; it rushes to the finish. The finish is short with more char, but the most enjoyable aspect lingers the longest in the form of pleasant fruity/jammy notes. Specifically grape. It makes sense, given it has a "wine soaked spiral," but the flavor is much more like grape jelly than Cabernet Sauvignon. The mouthfeel is quite harsh and grainy, with the young age being very apparent. The Cabernet-soaked spiral almost, but not quite, masks what is likely a 2-year-old whiskey in the bottle. A pleasant surprise, but more of a novelty than a great whiskey. At $55, this offers no value whatsoever; one could even argue it's excessively priced. In my opinion, not terrible, but I wouldn't buy it again.

The novelty of the wood cork and bottle design is intriguing, but it doesn't elevate it above other whiskies I've sampled, nor does it justify the cost. Interesting, but ultimately one-dimensional and too expensive.

Sweet, reminiscent of a dessert bourbon, almost like a fine tawny port?

My favorite from this producer.

Rich and viscous