Cotswolds Founder's Choice

Continuing my Cotswolds series, I have a sample of their Founder’s Choice that was bottled at 60.1% ABV. The nose is bold and rich starting with powdered sugar dusted strawberries, caramelized mangos, and leather then blond roast espresso, pipe tobacco and toasted coconut followed by raspberry pie, dehydrated apricots and grilled pineapple rings that transitions to baking spices and polished cedar furniture with high ethanol burn. The taste is a dense and oily mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits, sautéed strawberries and leather then a spicy blonde roast mocha, freshly lit pipe tobacco and coconut macaroon followed by freeze dried raspberries, apricots and lemon lime candy that transitions to baking spices, black pepper and polished cedar furniture with high ethanol burn. The finish is long with raspberry pie, dehydrated apricots, creamy tropical fruits, honeysuckle, spicy blonde roast mocha, black pepper, baking spices and polished cedar furniture. This is simply wonderful that the higher proof has intensified those typical Cotswolds flavors while avoiding the high spice that I found on their Reserve and drinks far older than I expected with some polished oak notes. At 60.1%, the proof is evident throughout the experience and I wouldn't advise this to anyone that isn't used to drinking higher proof spirits as it might be too hot, but for anyone that's beat their palate down and acclimated to those higher proof drams, this would likely be a fantastic one to buy a dram or bottle of. At the price of around $80+, I think this is an absolute bargain in today's market that can compete with some of the best spirits out there without needing to break the bank account.

World whisky day drammers online pour. Great stuff. Tropical and dark fruits. Nose: Honey, Caramel, Pears, Strawberries, Raspberries, Cherries, Flowers, Peaches, Apricot, Mango, Passion Fruit, Banana, Plums, Dates, Pineapples, Plums, Chocolate Palate: Raisins, Honey, Citrus, Cherries, Chocolate, Raspberries, Pepper, Toffee, Apples, Apricots, Sultanas, Vanilla, Bananas, Coconut Finish: Cherries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Dates, Chocolate, Plums, Raisins, Apricot, Vanilla, Pepper, Citrus, Sultanas, Bananas, Butterscotch

The colour on this whisky is incredible for the age, the casks are clearly incredibly active and contributing to lovely complexity in flavour that impacts the spirit in such a short time. On the nose it has dark chocolate and rich red fruit with a nice subtle hint of wood spice. Palate is surprisingly oily and rich with cereal and a sweet honey and red fruit. Finish is long and spicy with nuttiness and a plenty of dried fruits.

Nose: Croissant, peaches and cream, milky coffee. Really juicy soft nose with a slight bitter edge. So well balanced. Palate: malty, oaky, some cloves. Agree with the rye note from MoM on the finish, really comes through. Can see the ginger too. Spicier than the nose let on. Coffee comes through as it opens, like that milky coffee you get from machines that make lattes (in a good way). Smoother than the ABV lets on.

Like the lower proof releases from the distillery, this packs a basket of orchard fruits into its flavor profile. But the punch of the alcohol means the higher strength detracts more than it adds and I didn't have a big enough sample to experiment with water. If you like Cotswolds (and you should) and you have the constitution for high octane whisky, this one might tick all your boxes.

Man kind of blown away this is such a young spirit. The nose is incredible, some butter scotch, fruit and floral notes without being too sweet. Palette is similar, with a noticeable spicy sizzle at the end. Having trouble determining if that sizzle is caused by the high abv or the barrel, though. Holds its proof well, barely feels like a 60%!