Watershed Nocino Finished Bourbon

Nose: Simple Hershey's chocolate syrup drizzled over walnuts, very light cinnamon, dark caramel, and corn still in the husk. Palate: Oily, light cedar, vanilla, floral, a hint of leather, silky chocolate syrup. Finish: Chocolate, walnuts, a touch of light roasted coffee, brief. Overall... a decent little whiskey. This is a chocolate-forward spirit throughout! It doesn't linger on the palate for very long. I've tried the nocino liqueur from this brand before, and it definitely influences this bourbon! The walnuts, chocolate, and dark caramel are present here from the liqueur! However... I don't think it's worth the high price. I paid $109 for this. It's an interesting experiment to try, and I appreciate that the brand undertook it. Here's to the next version... which will hopefully be less expensive in the future 😆

Initially, I found it intriguing and multifaceted, but the more I examine it, the less I appreciate it. Very grain-forward (young), tasting of sawdust and damp cardboard, combined with numerous notes from the Nocino Barrel (black walnut liqueur). I suspect they are attempting to mask an inferior and young bourbon with a distinctive, extra-aged finish. I would never purchase this again.

This bourbon does not present itself as a bourbon at all. The nose is overwhelmingly potpourri, pine sap, and a faint hint of ginger snap cookies. The palate is completely dominated by more pine sap, herbal tea, and licorice. The barely-there finish offers notes of Earl Grey tea, pine needles, and a touch of brown sugar. A significant disappointment. Not good at all. Genuinely unpleasant.

The aroma is reminiscent of those scented pinecones often found at grocery store entrances during autumn, which I adore. The palate is acceptable—it tastes like those scented pinecones, though I don't particularly want to consume them. Overall, quite good, a step above average.

The nose initially presents pears, followed by hints of strawberry and black raspberry. Mid-palate, there's a pleasant grounded walnut flavor. The experience concludes with a spicy yet bitter finish.

Last night. My appreciation for this is growing as we consume the bottle; the nose remains pleasant and sweet, but the sharp edges in the flavor have softened considerably.