Millstone 4 Year Old 2016 Special No. 20

Zuidam also likes to experiment with peated malt and different types of barrels. This young Millstone, aged on an oloroso sherry barrel for barely 4 years, makes my mouth water.

The nose is relatively alcoholic, but it does have nice notes of red fruit and coffee. Chocolate with praline filling and woodsmoke. Caramel and Wellington boots. Not bad, but I expected more sweetness from the oloroso barrel.

Oily on the tongue, but immediately very sweet and sour. Caramel, red fruit, chocolate, quite a bit of woodsmoke, a salty edge and some green garden herbs. Not so bad, but again: I expected it to be sweeter. And less spicy. Here I still get black pepper, chili and nutmeg, but with a big bitterness.

That bitterness continues in the medium long finish, making it almost astringent on the deathbed.

Just a little too sharp to really hit the spot. Thanks for the sample, Manny.