pmryan
4.8
Color: Dark molasses. Nose: Chocolate overwhelms, but is lightened a bit by roasted peanuts and grilled pineapple. Assertive but not cloying nutmeg and (yes) sherry. Some ground coffee fragrance as well. Palate: Apple pie with cinnamon crust, black treacle, orange rind, and fresh maple syrup. Spicy and dark with a hefty mouthfeel. Finish: Almost arboreal. Barrel wood, yes, but also pine nuts and sap. Lingers with a savory bitterness, like crispy dark bacon. Diluted: Nose is *much* more floral with water, and adds a sweet mellow caramel as well. Palate is both sweeter (honey, brown sugar) and meatier (pork belly, sweet potatoes). Finish holds a minty, loamy version of its forest character.
