Color: Light amber, polished copper color with a ring of small teardrops all around the glass turning very slowly into oily and thick legs.
Nose: Classic Paul John... The moment I bring my nose in I pick up roasted sunflower seeds. Some people would say tahini or roasted peanuts and to be honest all of those are spot on as well. Peanut brittles, nutmeg and cloves. With water: Cinnamon latte, spiced Mexican hot chocolate and burnt bottom chocolate skillet cake.
Palate: It's very spicy, nutty and quite woody. Cinnamon, ground cloves and craft bourbon. Red pepper flakes, oak staves and dried chili mango slices. Allspice, coriander seeds and raisins. After adding water it gets even spicier: Chili powder, cinnamon sticks and ground cardamom. Sharp crystallized ginger, dry roasted walnuts.
Finish: Long, seriously long with chili oil, cloves and ground ginger.
Overall: An incredibly active cask... It has to be a barely used 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrel because it actually feels like a new charred oak barrel to be honest. I know if it was the case they definitely would say that on the label but it still makes you head spin. It's very spicy, oaky and nutty... You feel the influence of the wood in full but in a best possible way imaginable. Somehow active 1st fill or new charred oak casks work great with Paul John spirit without ending up overly woody or too crafty. Love these single cask Paul Johns, great cask management.
Price: £85
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