Widow Jane 10 Year Old, New American Oak Cask, Batch No. 16, 2018, 45.5%

Sweet cream, honey, vanilla and maple could easily make this feel dessert-led, but aged oak and rye spice give the palate a firmer edge. Dark fruit and baking spices keep that contrast interesting, while the finish’s lingering oak, spice, molasses and ginger shifts attention away from sweetness. That push and pull is the appeal here: generous sweet notes, with enough oak and spice to stop things becoming a confectionery parade.

Reviewed by SaltairSoda

Nose

Oak, Leather, Chestnut, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Patisserie cream, Dried dark cherry, Chocolate

Palate

Sweet cream, Aged oak, Rye spice, Honey, Vanilla, Maple, Baking spices, Dark fruit, Creamy mouthfeel

Finish

Lingering oak and spice, Charred oak, Molasses, Ginger, Subtle menthol