One Eight Distilling Untitled Whiskey No. 13

Rating: 20/23 Nose: Definitely sweet and leathery. I detect sweet cherry, tobacco, spice, and a hint of musty wood. The tobacco and wood combine to create a slight creosote impression. There's a subtle dryness with a mineral touch, but it's very mild. Palate: Wow! This is vying for the top spot. I'd be astonished if it wasn't aged in oloroso casks. It has a cognac-like cherry and candied orange sweetness, but with a slightly watery quality. It appears light, perhaps in a youthful or lighter whiskey manner. This results in a somewhat pale, slightly off caramel flavor. Nevertheless, there are robust spices, rich tobacco herbaceousness, and a tongue-coating leather presence. It's considerably fruitier and less spicy, leathery, or creosote-wooded than the other option. In comparison, there's a whisper of malty sweetness here and greater complexity. The balance feels a bit unrefined but likely more broadly appealing. As I drink more, the complexity grows, and I begin to overlook that slightly awkward youthful element. I start noticing more intriguing flavors like sultanas appearing alongside some chocolate and cocoa powder. There's clearly a lot happening here, and much of it is very mature. It has some nice spiciness, but it's less assertive than in the other. Finish: The sweetness, leather, spices, and vague cognac-like fruitiness (including some of the lightness) persist. Impressively, the complexity remains quite good, and I sometimes catch a hint of chocolate or rye spice. A faint whiff of tobacco drifts by occasionally as well. - Conclusion - My impression went from impressed to disappointed to amazed with this one. There are a few rough edges I wish were smoothed out, but another spirit also has rough edges and I still enjoy it. There's a slightly off-putting light layer, but otherwise, this is very good! It's evident that significant finishing has occurred. I'll be surprised if there isn't oloroso and I'd guess there's something else too (likely cognac). Arguably, it's over-finished since the specific finishes are prominent, but on the other hand, they don't taste bad or unbalanced and contribute delicious, complex flavors. I have no doubt this is an excellent bourbon. A certain other bourbon has similar youthfulness issues, and this strikes me as superior. The rich fullness here really helps it stand up to what I assume are higher proof competitors. Since this is better than that other bourbon, it's a 19 at worst. It won't be a 23 due to the aforementioned issues. Oddly, while another spirit is similar in style, it's so much stronger that comparison is difficult. Another spirit is lighter but has a deliberate character that makes it feel more refined. While the complexity here is great, the other spirit manages to be superior. The other also competes on fullness. I must conclude the other spirit is better. I rate the other in the 21-22 range, so this can't be higher than a 21. Considering all this, I believe a 19 or 20 is realistic. It's a tough decision, but I'll settle on a 20. If I were to adjust, I'd lean lower. I can definitely see it being a 19, maybe even an 18. I don't think it would go lower than that. I'm quite sure it wouldn't reach a 21. This is an exceptionally good bourbon. I had no idea what to anticipate, but I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to try it. Why aren't there more like this? Thanks for the sample, [reviewer name]!

Nose: butterscotch, raisin, spiced vanilla, cardamom, graham cracker, almond, walnut, pecan, plum, fig, dark chocolate, leather, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, pine, strong oak, mint, burnt toast, with a moderate to high ethanol sting. Taste: salted caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, brownie brittle, fig, date, apricot, clove, allspice, raisin, leather, tobacco, almond, walnut, chili pepper, spearmint, spicy oak, with a moderate alcohol bite, a medium-long finish featuring dark chocolate, rich oak, spiced dark fruit, and baking spice notes. Even though this distillery is located right in my backyard, I hadn’t heard of it until recently. It’s actually right across the street from a place that produces some delicious liqueurs. So let’s see what this DC distillery can do. The aroma is intoxicating. It has everything but the kitchen sink. Chocolate, dark fruit, baking spice, and strong oak, with a nougaty nuttiness. The palate is similar, rich and spicy, with each of the cask finishes integrating together well. This begs for a comparison to another brand's bourbon. Both are highly finished whiskies from DC distilleries. So I’m pouring them side by side to see how they stack up. This one is darker, richer, and fruitier. The other actually smells closer to a standard bourbon when nosed after this. Similarly on the palate, this one is darker and more brooding. I like this one better in almost every way, with one exception. The mouthfeel is better on the other, thicker and oilier than the thinner one. Nonetheless, this is delicious whiskey. A big thank you to someone who introduced me to the distillery and provided this sample for me to review.

This is a truly excellent whiskey. A specific distillery has done a fantastic job with this one. You immediately smell the sherry and cognac finish on the nose, with notes of grape skins, figgy pudding, cherry pie filling, cinnamon, leather, and rich caramel. On the palate, your tongue is enveloped in an oily blanket with flavors of orange zest, roasted cacao nibs, aniseed, and golden raisins, leading to a medium finish.

I'm thrilled with this! Wow! It's like dessert in a glass. Notes of cocoa powder and baking spices. What else could you ask for? If you need more, it also has a bit of fruit, caramel, toffee, and a wonderful lingering finish. Truly a fantastic whiskey.

I bought this in DC to celebrate the holidays with relatives. I truly enjoyed it; in many ways, it reminded me of a particular whiskey. Judging by how little remained in the bottle, it was the most popular among my family's selection of several bourbons, ryes, and Irish whiskies.

This distillery did an amazing job with the cask finish on this awesome 10-year-old MGP sourced Bourbon. This had a similar complexity to the other Washington DC MGP sourced bourbon from a well-known brand.