King of Kentucky Single Barrel 15 Year Old, Cask #1, 2022, 64.5%

Dark fruit and molasses give this bourbon a rounded, sweet side, while resinous and spiced oak keep it firmly structured; dark chocolate and seared orange peel add a useful middle ground. The long finish brings cocoa, tobacco smoke and earthy leather, so the sweetness doesn’t get the final word. That contrast makes the character appealing to me: generous, but not simply sugary.

Reviewed by SunbeamRadio

Nose

Dark sorghum, Resinous oak, Honey, Dried fruit, Rich cigar tobacco

Palate

Robust oak spices, Dried fruit, Dark chocolate, Molasses, Seared orange peel

Finish

Long, powerful and warming, Spiced oak, Cocoa powder, Tobacco smoke, Earthy leather