Peggy Noe Stevens

Nose: Malty note with concentrated wood sugar and saddle leather. Golden raisin and fig to round out some of the caramel and toast flavors.

Palate: Caramel and cola, but cinnamon brioche and char arrive and it heightens with a kick of spicy ginger and oregano. Fudge note. 

Finish: Spicy finish that has staying power into earthy oak, and ginger.

Comments: A bit hot, but stack it with blocks of ice and it will settle into some really rather dreamy flavors.

Score

8.3

---

Susan Reigler

Nose: Malted barley. Apples and pears contribute to the aroma, along with a dash of white pepper.

Palate: Apples and pears on the nose become pear and peach here. The sweet malt eases to nutty with some balancing oak.  

Finish: Long and oaky. Fruit and the nuttiness takes a turn and finally yields to an oaky ending. 

Comments: Not surprisingly, water makes it sweeter and maltier and allows more interaction between the flavors here. 

Score

8.7

---