Tasting Notes
This small batch single malt release celebrates a lesser spotted species of American white oak. The new oak casks, made from Quercus Muehlenbergii or Chinkapin oak, were given a heavy toast and a medium char. Aside from the lovely sweetness and confectionary type notes you might expect from new white oak, Chinkapin is also known for dark fruit flavours, with other deeper notes like candied ginger and butterscotch accentuated here by the heat treatment of the wood. The aromas of making bramble jam, cinnamon custard tarts and vanilla spiced apples gave it initially a lovely sweet warm scent, while cooking wild boar steaks with balsamic cranberry compote added a spicy, herbal note to this autumnal scene. This was seamlessly followed on the palate by dark fruits, candied ginger toffee apples and a strawberry basil smoothie with a touch of black pepper. After a drop of water, childhood memories of butterscotch candies came to mind as well as hot buttered brown toast. To taste - caramelised acorn squash with walnut and pomegranate gremolata all washed down with a dandelion and burdock sparkling soft drink.