Amador Double Barrel Bourbon

Vital Stats: This spirit is 86.8 proof, 43.4% alcohol by volume and retails for $42. It’s Kentucky bourbon, aged in “new charred American oak barrels,” and then finished in Napa Valley wine barrels. Though it is a non vintage barreling, the purchased bourbon was aged between three and 10 years.

Appearance: Rusty in hue and brightly orange to amber, the whiskey looks flaxen and sappy, with slow, close together legs.

Nose: Top notes of buttery biscuits, Bisquick, and vanilla, intermingle pleasantly with spicy cinnamon and salt water taffy. Coffee and a slight marigold floral hint underly.

Palate: Immediately spicy, with a sharp, almost tannic lingering finish, this whiskey is bold. Sweet kettlecorn, cinnamon, vanilla, and raisin notes are present, but most intriguing is a lightly floral, marigold and a pretty note of saffron. A well integrated puff of smoke, not a char, also deserves a mention. Spice, cocoa, and saffron create a nice balance, not overwhelming.

-The Whiskey Wash