Westward "Mission Exclusive" Single Barrel

I was holding onto this for a special moment, but seeing another bottle at a decent price made me want to try this one first to see if I should get another. Nose: Barely floral. Palate: Rich and decadent chocolate with apricot and tangerine notes. The flavors are somewhat blended and hard to distinguish, but they are present. It's full and rich. Faint floral hints with slightly bitter vanilla and flat malt. This is decadent, though it could be more complex. It's richer than the standard Westward (rated 16/23) and has less of an odd, damp paper taste. Overall, this feels like an improved version that needs some time and air to settle in the bottle. The palate has such hidden decadence that I can't ignore it. Finish: I didn't anticipate this, but the finish is the most intricate, decadent, and pleasing part of this drink. It's surprisingly floral without being light. There's malt and a thin layer of the typical Westward funk. The chocolate lingers a bit, and there's plenty of vanilla. This is difficult to put into words, but it's the most complex form while also being decadent, intriguing, balanced, and well-crafted. - Final Thoughts - My bottle of Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered (rated 18/23) shows more subtlety and balance. This one has fewer dimensions, but more decadence. Despite its lower complexity, this is still an interesting drink. The bold, tannic character really shows up often, but sometimes it backs off, revealing more toffee, malt, chocolate, apricot, tangerine, vanilla, and maple decadence. This is a rather peculiar experience. The standard bottle is unusual but predictable. Is this one predictable? I'm not certain. It is a single barrel, after all. This has less going on, but it's bolder, richer, and fuller. Comparing it again to the Smoke Wagon, I appreciate the Smoke Wagon's complexity more, but there's a distinct decadence here that I don't want to overlook. Considering how competitive the Smoke Wagon is, this doesn't seem like a huge step up from the standard Westward (rated 16/23). Still, it needs some adjustment. I believe this sits between the standard Westward and the Smoke Wagon, so I'm giving it a 17. This distillery is great and shows a lot of promise and individuality, but this particular single barrel didn't win me over. The Smoke Wagon appears more intricate and nuanced than this. Alright, I revisited this a few days later after trying some strangely earthy and chocolatey merlot, and wow, this has the rich apricot flavor of a 21-year-old Irish whiskey! It's so rich and delightful. I think this might be an unusual situation, but damn, this is delicious. Right now, I'm thinking it's around a 21, maybe a 20. It still has a lot of heat, so definitely not a 23. The flavor is rich, but not absolutely mind-blowing. Wow, what a finish. If you happen to get that merlot and this specific barrel, then I'm rating this very highly. Outside of that specific scenario, I do have more reservations. Standard Westward is funkier, more complex, and has more bitterness by comparison. I enjoy both a lot, but the richness here is just so much better. I mean, the standard Westward has more of its typical funky taste, but I'm not entirely convinced that's a good thing. This has less bitter, yeasty funk and more richness with less complexity. I'm definitely picking this one, but each has its place. I do get some pleasant yeastiness here too. Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 (rated 18-19/23) has a comparable level of complexity with possibly greater maturity, but also a bit more alcohol bite. Both are quite nice to sip, but they do have some serious intensity. I think this is about the same as the Wild Turkey. Despite the richness here, the Wild Turkey is much more intricate. I think that suggests this is either an 18 or a 19. I'm leaning slightly towards a 19 now, but I was previously decided on an 18, so I think I'll settle on a high 18. Total Wine's Balcones True Blue Cask Strength (rated 19/23) shows much more ethanol and some of those typical flaws of home-barrel aging. There's nice vanilla richness, but it has a lot of ethanol and some mild industrial notes. Also, a surprisingly intense root beer flavor. My first impression is that I prefer this Westward bottling. I really wasn't expecting that. Based on this conclusion, I think I should rate this a 19. It's a bit of a situational dram, I guess, but this is damn fine and never bad. I can still see this being an 18, but I'm comfortable giving it a 19. I really don't see a 20 though, given how muddled it is. There might be an ideal alcohol level that would push this higher, but I haven't found it. What truly surprises me about this drink is how much the finish stands out. For most drinks, the finish is the weakest part, but this has an amazing finish. I love that finish. That's really what elevates this to a 19. Well, maybe just an 18. Still, the finish is undeniably the best part. My Smoke Wagon is rated an 18, and this doesn't seem clearly superior, so I think I'll give this an 18. It's quite enjoyable, but it's borderline in terms of value. Actually, it's past the borderline. At $90, it's just not quite worth it, unfortunately.

A single barrel American single malt from a specific store selection. Bottle 025. Barrel 295. High proof. Nose: Cherry, banana, cream with vanilla, pie crust, and a touch of coconut. Mixed berries with caramel and woody notes. The ethanol is noticeable after a few sniffs, causing a slight numbing. The aroma is pleasant but lacks the polish or intensity of a high-proof single malt Scotch. Palate: Toffee, salted caramel, and butterscotch candy. Brown sugar and caramel bread pudding with a hint of vanilla. Notes of almond and perhaps a caramel apple. The finish is sweet, with more caramel and butterscotch. A light baking spice heat and a subtle crisp apple note are present behind the sweet malt flavors. It has a big, thick, oily texture. This offers a delightful array of malt flavors, though it's somewhat one-dimensional. Incorporating fruit from a sherry or red wine barrel finish would greatly enhance it. This is my first time trying this brand, and starting with a single barrel release might not have been the best approach, as I don't know how it compares to their standard offering, which might include sherry-finished whiskey for better balance. This specific barrel might just highlight one particularly good element of the base product. Regardless, this is quite delicious, and I plan to try the brand again. I'm not deterred by the slight imbalance; this is very enjoyable and I'll happily revisit this brand. _______

Nose: Smells like banana cream pie. Palate: Great mouthfeel. Creamy vanilla. Finish: A long finish with banana bread and brown sugar.