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Cadenheads Original Collection Heaven Hill 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (700ml)
"...super good! More grasses and herbs, even mosses, green spices, citrus peel… Not sure all that is very 'bourbon', but I really like this development. " - whiskyfun.com
An American with a traditional sweetness that carries on consistently through the dram in the form of fruit notes. The finish reminded the Cadenhead's tasting panel of a piña colada cocktail. Even from a tiny sample, aromas billow from the glass, mixing up tinned peaches with vanilla gobstopper and Bounty bar. Eminently sipable with a nice fruity-oak-corn sweetness, the finish is nutty and riddled with sweet wood shavings followed by late cinnamon and coconut. Doing what any good indie should do, Cadenheads have bottled a whiskey that takes you off the beaten track. Aficionados should have fun comparing it against mainstream styles. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... It's good that those very distinguished people at Cadenhead's would have made it clear that this was ex-bourbon barrel. You never know… Colour: straw. Nose: it's almost as if this was matured in fresh oak for only two or three years and then re-racked in refill. Soft vanillas, brioches and sponge cakes, barley syrup (yes), nougat and popcorn, perhaps tangerines… Mouth: super good! More grasses and herbs, even mosses, green spices, citrus peel… Not sure all that is very 'bourbon', but I really like this development. Goes towards cinnamon and soft peppers then, which was more expected, naturally. Finish: rather long, a tad oakier. Nice green fruits, green plums, rhubarb… Comments: a bourbon that's gone a little towards Scotch, you could almost call it a malty bourbon. 84 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Coconut, strawberry laces, leather. Flavour: Almonds, dark chocolate, pineapple. Finish: Dry. Kiwi fruit, piña colada.