1.16 - Barrell Bourbon Infinity Project & Westland Garryana American Single Malt Whiskey

In this episode of the Spirits Blind Tasting podcast I'm doing a blind tasting of the Barrell Bourbon Infinity Project & Westland Garryana American Single Malt Whiskey. Feel free to follow along with a dram of any of these or any other spirit you enjoy as I try to uncover the aromas and flavors of these 2 spirits.

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My tasting notes from this episode can be found below:

Spirit A - Barrell Bourbon Infinity Project (59.65% ABV)

Appearance

• Clarity: Clear
• Intensity: Deep
• Color: Gold
• Suggested texture: High

Nose

• Condition: Clean
• Intensity: Medium
• Aroma characteristics: Brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla, hints of fresh apples, dried orange peel, toasted white bread (wheat?), butter, nutmeg, lightly charred oak
• Other notes: Very quiet and dry nose, profile feels hidden. Ethanol sharpness is peaking through which could mean higher ABV which could be masking the aromas, or it could mean an older spirit where the aromas are very integrated (or both).
• ABV: ~50%

Palate

• Sweetness: Dry
• Texture: Warming, mouth filling, medium > high viscosity
• Intensity: Pronounced
• Flavor characteristics: Brown sugar, baked apples, vanilla, dark chocolate, burnt toast, butter, cinnamon
• Other notes: Palate is much darker and complex than the more sweet nose aromas. Feels like most of the aromas and flavors are from the barrel, and not the distilled spirit.
• Finish: Long very complex (Oak, char, dark chocolate)
• ABV: 55%-60%

Conclusion

• Quality level: Very good > Outstanding
• Blind guess: Low Rye mash bill Bourbon, >10 years, Heavily Charred barrels

Spirit B - Westland Garryana American Single Malt Whiskey (56.2% ABV)

Appearance

• Clarity: Clear
• Intensity: Deep 
• Color: Gold
• Suggested texture: Medium

Nose

• Condition: Clean 
• Intensity: Pronounced
• Aroma characteristics: Fresh lemon peel, caramelized apples, apple cider, sultanas, sea salt, hints of peat(?), red grapes, other red berries?
• Other notes: Very powerful nose with very clear aromas and a mix of very fresh and very sharp notes. Nose gets darker and more deep/complex as it opens up and warms up. Wine/fortified wine cask?
• ABV: ~55%

Palate

• Sweetness: Dry
• Texture: Warming, mouth filling, medium > high viscosity
• Intensity: Pronounced
• Flavor characteristics: Caramelized apples, grated lemon peel, cloves, raisins, fortified wine, stewed fruits/berries
• Other notes: The palate revealed more of the darker notes that came out with heating up the spirit on the nose. Feels very aromatic and almost herbal on the palate.
• Finish: Long and very complex (apples, oak, fortified wine) 
• ABV: ~55%

Conclusion

• Quality level: Outstanding
• Blind guess: Single Malt, Red Wine or Fortified wine cask, 10-12 years

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