[47.5%・NAS・Bottled in 2017・Official Bottling・Limited Release]
Nose:
Quite an oomph of citrus, orange peels and on the dry side of things with a noticeable lean on the wood. The char asserts itself confidently, cloves and tobacco at first and chocolate milkshake, honey and corn syrup sweetness to follow.
Palate & Finish:
The spirit lays bare as it’s dressed with orange essence. Quite young indeed with some pear nectar joining in before a sudden wave of overwhelming spices. Hints of milk chocolate and toffee wash up afterwards.
Light fruits and slight creaminess with a curious bitterness from the tannins and leather.
Thoughts:
It is said that the Statesman is created from casks that have been ageing in the “warmest places at the warehouse”, which supposedly allows more interactions between the spirit and the wood. It does not appear that emphasis on wood influence pays off on this occasion. Perhaps the sequel will do better..
Cheers to Brown-Forman Australia and Tonic PR for inviting me to the media launch and thank you to Zeta Bar and Mr. Millhouse for hosting us.
-Nicholas