Paul John Edited, Bourbon Cask, Batch 002, 2013, 46%

paperboat_atlas20 Aug

The grassy barley on the palate gives this a grain-led centre, while the nose only sometimes brings out a malty note. That distinction matters to me. Honey, cocoa and espresso on the nose point toward richness, but the subtle peat on the palate keeps the sweeter side in balance. The finish continues that contrast with chocolate-mint, gentle peat smoke and toasted oak. I find the relationship between barley and peat more interesting here than the sweet notes on their own. My reservation is that the nose’s clearest malt cue is described as occasional, so I would not put malt at the centre of the whole character. Even so, the barley and gentle smoke make a combination that suits my tastes.

QuietRover11 Jun

The cocoa and espresso notes give this a darker side, while mint and vanilla keep the palate feeling lighter. Gentle peat carries through the finish without taking over.

Sweetness meets gentle peat.

silver.postcard12 Feb

The oak connection is present, but it doesn’t seem to lead the whole description: vanilla appears on the nose and palate, while toasted oak is specifically noted on the finish. That gives the ex-bourbon cask label a sensible tie-in, though the more distinctive thread here is chocolate and coffee alongside gentle peat and mint. I like that contrast; the oak reads as a supporting note rather than the main event. The occasional fruit notes add another direction without making the picture feel overly sweet.