Litchfield Port Cask Finish Bourbon

Nose - strawberry, raisin, butterscotch, coffee, vanilla, dark chocolate, lime, black cherry, mint, clove, star anise, rich oak, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - strawberry, ginger, lime, raisin, lemon zest, clove, star anise, butterscotch, cardamom, vanilla, cherry, cranberry, black pepper, bitter oak, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with candied red fruit, butterscotch, and baking spice flavors. This particular bottling is a 10 Year bourbon sourced from MGP, finished by Litchfield in port casks, and proofed to 50%. The nose has red berries front and center. Actually, it has the same citrusy berry note I find on a bottle of Del Maguey Tobala mezcal I have. The high rye bourbon notes are in the background with some butterscotch, coffee, star anise, and baking spices presenting. The palate hits those same red berry notes with a heavy dose of citrus and some bitterness on the mid palate leading into the finish. This is definitely a port-finished bourbon, one of the better I’ve tried. The red berry notes are really nice, but the sourness and bitterness on the palate hold it back for me. Still, I’d happily drink this most days, and the profile seems particularly fitting for the Christmas season. A big thank you to @jonwilkinson7309 for the generous sample!

Visited the Litchfield Distillery today. Had a great time tasting whiskey, and even learned some things I hadn't known before with regard to the distilling process. Tasted several of their offerings, including their Port Cask Finish... and I also purchased a small bottle to try at (my parents') home. Nose: Didn't get much from the nose here at the house. It's almost as if the time it spent in the Port barrels cancelled-out the usual nose I get from straight bourbons. Palate: Spicy, slightly sweet, oak. I got the "Port" more from the tasting at the distillery than from my home pour. Finish: Short. This was my least favorite of the five I tried today. Not bad, not great. However, wish I had more because I find I discover more from subsequent pours, as more notes tend to reveal themselves over time. More reviews of other Litchfield Distillery whiskeys to come...

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Nose: Notes of apricot, plum, and raisin. Palate: Cinnamon red hots with some overripe fruit. Finish: Long length with medium heat. Splash: No new flavors are revealed. Overall: 8/10 - For 92 proof, the finish is surprisingly long. The port barrel finish isn’t lost on this either, but a touch more proof would make it a 9/10.

Banana Taffy and red wine. Balanced palate of grains, dough and port. A little welcomed heat.

Christmas, baking spice, dried fruit, oak mid pal, thick, oily

Smooth but not much flavor