Otay Buckwheat whiskey

I received this generous sample from a friend. It's from Catskill Distilling Co. I'm not very familiar with them, but they appear to be a craft producer that enjoys experimenting with spirits. This particular one, made from buckwheat (a seed, not a grain), is classified as a "spirit" rather than a whiskey. Let's see what they've accomplished without a traditional grain base. Nose: Pronounced sawdust. Brown sugar, caramel, and candle wax. Oatmeal and Apple Jacks cereal. Abundant oak and wood notes. Black pepper, anise, and allspice. Molasses and sugar cane. It was slightly off-putting initially, but I'm actually quite enjoying it. Sweet and woody. Palate: Brown sugar and oat. Caramel with a hint of nail polish. Molasses and black tea. Vanilla. Tobacco, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. It remains quite sweet, but it's a bit more bitter now, and the oak has softened. Finish: Short to medium. It's dominated by spice. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, allspice. Oak. Some of that brown sugar, oat, and nail polish essence lingers, but not for long. This is an intriguing experimental spirit -- I mean, spirit. It drinks similarly to Koval's Four Grain whiskey, though I prefer this one, especially on the nose. Would I purchase a full bottle? I'm uncertain. But I'm thankful to my friend for allowing me to try this. I never would have guessed that a seed-based spirit could be consumed like a decent whiskey. Truly interesting stuff.

It's been a long time since I opened something new. Working through a huge pile of samples. But I put on a mask and went to a liquor store for red wine for pizza sauce. While there, I saw this odd little bottle between American craft whiskeys. Buckwheat whiskey? I enjoy buckwheat pancakes, so maybe this will be equally interesting. And $25 for 375ml isn't too much. Technically, buckwheat is a seed, not a grain, so this must be a 'spirit' rather than whiskey. Either way, it seems intriguing. The color is like well-aged Armagnac. At first smell, it's more like brandy than whiskey, with floral notes, grape, and oak. It doesn't taste like buckwheat pancakes, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It's just different—tastes of cedar, some brandy notes, and allspice. So, this isn't for typical whiskey drinkers. But if you want to try something different without spending a lot, it's worth investigating.