Blantons Straight From The Cask

I've had multiple drams from purchased samples, but I finally decided to open one of my bottles. I tried it a few times (down to half a bottle now) and have, more or less, consolidated my notes.

Nose: A little peculiar at first this time around (compared with previous pours and other barrels). More wet shaved wood and mint. In the background are toffee, butterscotch, brown sugar. There is a more traditional rye honey richness, which is top-notch. Carmel-coated popcorn and vanilla. Really improves with time in the glass. Buttery, rich, and fat. (with water) More rye grain here, honey, toffee -- generally more earthy and slightly less rich and ethereal. Amazing. And caramel.

Palate: Thick and a little warm, no surprise, with a strong sense of the usual honey, toffee, butterscotch, and sweet and candied corn. Vanilla. Really more 'yellow' sweet than 'brown.' The wood keeps it from being a run-away dessert monster, and rye spice in buried in it. (with water) Much more rye and dry, the sweetness here is secondary with darker and earthier notes in the foreground.

Finish: A little more darkness from the wood. The dry, dark, bitter chocolate. Honey, rye grain, and all the other flavors. This is like two different, but related, bourbons without and with water. The finish is excellent. The score here is more of a sense than an absolute anything.

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