Vinn Whiskey

The aroma brings notes of oak, malt, butterscotch-coated pecans, and caramel with a slight sting. The texture felt great, rich, mellowed by oak, and silky. Tastes include malt, oak, and a grain-based sweetness along with cinnamon rice pudding, almond-flavored water, and whispers of dried plum. It concludes with a somewhat dry, satiny finish, warmed by mulling spices, and a persistent oak sweetness. I tried batches 4 and 5, and batch 6 showed clear improvement. Considering it's a young spirit, VINN's market debut is rather impressive, though occasionally a bit too oak-forward. For mixing drinks, picture a smooth Scotch or Irish Single Malt, suitable for a Blood and Sand, Rob Roy, or a Rusty Nail.

The aroma is quite harsh with chemical fumes initially, but after airing for a minute or two, notes of butterscotch and roasted peanuts emerge. It took considerable thought to identify the familiar taste on the palate: kettle corn, or very buttery popcorn-flavored jelly beans. Faint hints of peach and vanilla pudding soften the heat, and the mouthfeel is pleasantly buttery. Overall, this displays all the hallmarks of a classic bourbon, the last thing I expected. The one I sampled is from their fourth batch, which is essentially a single cask with a splash of another cask added to reach the desired proof.

Caramel finish, rice flavor comes through.