The Basics: 

Rare Character Whiskey (sourced)

The Chestnut Club Single Barrel

121.84 Proof

5 Year Age Statement

$80 MSRP

Nose:

Plum, leather, dark brown sugar, raspberry tart, maraschino cherry, vanilla custard, and a light nuttiness.

Palate: 

Oak, stewed cherries, holiday spiced nuts, molasses cookies, and lemon zest.

Finish:

Long finish with cigar tobacco, cardamom, cinnamon, and butterscotch.

Final Thoughts:

Rare Character Whiskey, based in Kentucky, curates select single barrels from around the country. This specific barrel, selected by the Chestnut Club, features Indiana bourbon, aged in Tennessee, coming in at 121.84 proof. Although this whiskey carries a 5 year age statement, the depth of flavor and complexity drinks more along the lines of a 10 year bourbon. The bourbon has a strong oak forward palate, cigar tobacco finish, and an undertone of stewed plums throughout. A wave a baking spices hits you on the back-end of the palate, but is balanced by a dark molasses sweetness. Overall, this is a delicious whiskey that can compete with the more well-known distilleries. In a blind tasting, I actually picked this Chestnut Club single barrel over a much higher age-stated B521…no names given to protect the innocent ;).