Age: 17-Year

Proof: 129.2

Mash bill: 75/13/12 Corn/Rye/Malted Barley

Bottle count: 102 bottles

Tasting Notes: The nose hits dense and buttery with waves of butterscotch, dusty vanilla, and sweet mixed fruit. While juicy and plump, and not nearly showing its age, there are accompanying pops of powdered-sugar–coated baking spices, worn leather, and sweet oak that remind you of the time this has been in a barrel.

The palate is dense and chewy, like drinking vintage grape soda cuddled in a wool sweater. There’s plenty of syrupy brown sugar and oak, but the heat picks up with black pepper and cardamom mid-palate, balancing out the creamy, sweet notes that start the sip.

The finish is tingly and warming as the black pepper continues, showing more of the aged leather and oak notes, but all wrapped up in a sweet, effervescent grape soda.