Redwood Empire Haystack Needle 14 Year Old, Port Cask, 2021, 55%

The lingering finish is the part that stands out here: cinnamon spice and molasses sit alongside cedar and mint, with the close described as long and smooth. It sounds warmly rounded without losing its spice.

Reviewed by hazelnut compass

Nose

Stewed plum, cranberry, and blackberry cobbler, Lemon meringue pie and vanilla extract, Brown sugar, ground ginger, and charred oak

Palate

Tannic red fruit with raspberry and elderberry, Silky toffee and vanilla, Cardamom, nutmeg, and tart cherry

Finish

Lingering cinnamon spice and ground pepper, Molasses, oak, and caramel, Cedar, mint, sweet tobacco, and light roast coffee; long and smooth