King of Kentucky 2022 15yr Single Barrel

King of Kentucky 2022 15yr Single Barrel - 750ml

Color: Light mahogany.

Nose:  Dark chocolate, caramel, pecans, and rich leather all jump out at first in a gooey delicious burst. Dark cherry, polished oak, and an intriguing light touch of pine pulsate underneath. Every layer is rich and commands attention on its own but they also work together in wonderful harmony. Cookie dough wafts out of the glass as well and each whiff holds a fair bit of heat that soon dissipates and allows for almond extract to come through. The nose is absolutely outstanding and I wish I could smell this all day long.

Palate: The first sip is hot but it’s absolutely bursting with those initial notes of dark chocolate, gooey caramel, and pecans. There’s also a heaping of burnt brown sugar and that rich leather flavor undergirding it all. Oak and pine exist in interplay with the leather as the backbone on the palate. Then the dark cherry develops mid palate and extends throughout the lengthy finish. Finally there’s also an elusive mint note that presents itself but seems to disappear every time I go searching for more. The mouthfeel is perhaps the most unremarkable part of this pour as it’s a bit middling, though it certainly holds rich layers of flavor. The finish, it should be said, is pretty drying with only the roof of the mouth and the edges of the tongue surviving its effects as brown sugar and all spice intensify over time after the initial sip.