Guests attending a Toronto tasting of amazing Sazerac bourbons (Buffalo Trace, 1792 Sweet Wheat, Blanton’s Single Barrel, E.H. Taylor Four Grain), with Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Blender Drew Mayville, got a treat all bourbon lovers would kill for: a taste of Old Rip Van Winkle - one of the world’s most coveted whiskies. Not only that, but the 25 Year Old is the oldest expression yet. Just over 700 bottles were released … worldwide. Even Mayville worried that a wheated bourbon of this age wouldn’t work out. Well, it did. In a rather spectacular fashion. Ripe, nutty caramel, marmalade/orange chocolate, old polished wood, browned butter, some candied banana, worn leather and just a hint of acetate on a nose that reminded me of a fantastic aged rum rather than a whisky. Silky smooth in the mouth, with Christmas cake, exotic spices, and a long, warm, complex finish that I could still taste a full ten minutes after the pour was gone. Pretty unforgettable stuff.
Up front floral and citrus notes precede a lively lemon-lime palate underpinned by bright acidity before a clean, zesty close.
Complex sweet and slightly sour scents combine with hints of gaminess and traces of subtle spice. Shows some delicacy on the palate despite the relatively high alcohol. Subtle orangey and spicy flavours suggest pairing with Oriental foods.
A rich, golden hue and an elegant nose of poached pear, citrus, toasted vanilla and spice with a gorgeous subtle honeycomb accent. Perfectly dry on the palate, with ripe pear, apple, grilled pineapple and integrated vanilla/spice notes. A lot to love about this Chard that will show even better with a bit of time in the cellar.
Fleshy dark fruit scents with red currant, a dry herbal aroma, a pinch of cinnamon and a trace of liquorice on the nose. Shifts to blackberry and blackcurrant flavours backed by dense tannins, black chocolate and a firm dry finish.
Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, white peach and lemon zest nose; medium-bodied, dry, round on the palate with peach and lemon flavours augmented by a floral note. Beautifully balanced and lingering. Delicious. Drink now through 2020.
Shows red berry, light vanilla spice and green herbal scents with blackberry, blackcurrant and dark chocolate kicking in on the palate. Medium weight and with a bit of dry tannic backbone, this is a reliable, well-made middle-of-the-road Cab.