Old Rip Van Winkle's 15 Year Old Family Reserve

Well, I tasted the 2011 and the 2012 within five days of each other at bars. I liked the 2011 better, but the 2012 improved vastly with about 25 minutes in the glass.

Both were delightful and worth every penny that I spent on the glasses.

Scent: Green apple; caramel; branch snapped off a maple tree; leather; maraschino cherry.

Taste: Oak; cashews; salt; cardamon; baked apple tart with hot pie crust; sweet corn, alcohol.

Finish: Medium long; oak; whipped cream; caramel; nougat; walnuts; cherry.

The 2011 was less sweet but better balanced. The tasting notes were similar, with the 2012 having more hot alcohol and the typical cherry profile of a bourbon with some corn mash in it. I hope this coming year tastes more like the 2010/2011 rather than going even farther past the direction that the 2012 is going. That would be a shame, even though the 2012 is certainly quite good.

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