Taconic Distillery - Barrel Strenght

I recently had the pleasure of trying a whisky from a small distillery, located in the historic Hudson Valley of New York.  Taconic Distillery has been using the finest ingredients including natural spring water from Polling Hills Far,, since 2013.

Their barrel strength bourbon is comprised of: 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% barley - bottled at 57.5% abv, aged for a minimum of two years in new oak, char 3, 53-gallon Independent Stave Company barrels.

Colour: Auburn

Nose: Given the high proof, it's surprisingly sweet and creamy on the nose.  Those buttery corn notes coming through, tinged with a little rye spice with some vanilla notes.

Palate: On first tasting this youthful whisky, I get the reverse of what I got on the nose.  Wham - initial alcohol hit  which dissipated to those warm rye spice notes, pumpernickel bread, cloves which quickly surrender to the sweetness  - sweet buttery biscuit with a wave of honeycomb vanilla.

Finish: Long, seemed to be never ending, spice giving way to a welcoming sweet honey caramel finish.

The depth of flavor and complexity of this whisky makes it a great choice for sipping on its own, or for mixing in cocktails.  I will definitely be seeking out more from this small distillery in the future.  Although I enjoyed the whisky neat, I found that it worked best in a cocktail for me personally.

Cocktail recipe: Banana-Rum Old-Fashioned.

. 1-ounce Taconic Barrel Strength Bourbon

. 1-ounce light ru

. 1/2 ounce crème de banana (Tempus Fugit Spirits)

. 1 dash Angostura bitters

. orange peel strip.

Fill a tall mixing glass with ice cubes.  Add bourbon, rum, crème de banana, and bitters.  Stir for a few seconds; strain add twist of orange peel. Enjoy!

Slàinte mhath.