2022 Heaven Hill 17yr (SmB | 20yr [28%], 19yr [44%], 17yr [28%] | 118.2°)

 


Nose: A spicy front with sweetness embedded at the core.  A woody nectar permeates the smell – it reminds me of subtle honey.  More richness ever so familiar in brown sugar comes about that is very inviting - reminiscent of baking a newly fresh cookie.  The front heat seems to settle well into the backdrop that allows the scent to be savored for hours on end. 

 

Palate: A front bite of heat that takes one a second to get to the midpalate – more heat than one expects at 118.2 proof...  The midpalate is swirled with sweetness and tartness.  The sweetness amplifies more on the second pour.  From an item that is 17-20 years, I thought it would off a more robust midpalate.  The flavor lingers more and more as you sip – but doesn’t necessarily possess a long finish.  The spirit settles softly with a touch of astringency that leaves the mouth a little dry – desiring for more bourbon to coat the tongue.  The woody elements of the age settle with the flavor for a sense of final refinement.

 

Verdict:  The color of the liquid is nice and dark with the bottling, just like the Heaven Hill 27yr, and the 85th makes it a specialty in the collector world.  It may be just me, but it misses a little more ump – I wish the midpalate would demonstrate the explosion of flavor that Heaven Hill demonstrated in Elijah Craig Barrel Proof of old.  A solid pour nevertheless. 

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