Wathen's Barrel Proof Single Barrel (PPLD 2019)

Color: Yellowish Amber. Medium to slow legs. Nose: Ethanol, floral notes like semi-dried lawn clippings that eventually transform into what appears to be rye. Faint hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and oak linger in the background. Palate: Floral/grassy. Finish: A lingering finish with spice and a significant blast of fresh grass clippings. I'm uncertain about my assessment of this bottle. It's certainly distinctive and memorable. However, my palate is urging my brain to erase the experience. Initially, the nose is just ethanol. After allowing it to breathe, it shifted from a funky floral scent to rye. Some of the floral notes carry through to the palate but are quickly overshadowed by one of the most peculiar finishes I've encountered in a whiskey. It's akin to blending fresh grass clippings and infusing the spirit with them. It's somewhat off-putting, and I'm genuinely trying to avoid disliking it. I might need to try it again, hoping for a better impression. Based on this first tasting, I would definitively not purchase another bottle.