7: 1991 Cragganmore 17 Year Manager's Dram Single Malt Scotch Whisky A unique short and flat-top still (the spirit still) used in second distillation, in addition to the use of sherry casks, is likely responsible Malt Scotch Whisky This is a Speyside distillery, running 6 traditional Speyside pot stills at its location This one stood out well for both tasters as a single malt. Explored here as single malts was nothing short of a divine experience.

Things are settling down now (without water, I'm a trooper), but the smells are still intensely spiced A silky smooth vanilla does well to hide the peanut shell note I found on the palate, but I can still Rating: 3/5 With any single barrel or individual store pick offerings, the notes and rating in this review

Rating: 4/5 With any single barrel or individual store pick offerings, the notes and rating in this review

There is still a sweet & spicy brown sugar on the tip of the tongue but its effect is reduced on the

aged to perfection in the Hudson Valley, New York" Further identification: Bottled on 7/27/2021; This single Post-sip the oak notes are more prominent, but still faint. There are many of the rye characteristics still poking through: punchy earthy herbs, pepper, and vanilla

Company on Label: Del Bac Whiskey Type: Sonoran Single Malt Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Age: NAS Further identification: Fall 2021 Distiller's Cut is an expression of the classic Sonoran Single

Mayor Pingree 5 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Percentages: Undisclosed Valentine Mash Bill Proof: 117.8° Age: 5 years Further identification: This single There's a thick and leathery nose feel that certainly tingles a bit on the way through.

It's Starlight Sunday over here in the Amongst household again! I figured I'd combo that with a shared pour - this sample comes courtesy of my friend Ian (@barrelproofnerd) in a sample swap we did not too long ago. In looking for the barrel details I also discovered that the venerable Frank (@bourbyourenthusiasm) has also reviewed this barrel for Malt! I'm thrilled to be sipping on something that we have both tried and I look forward to comparing notes once I finish up putting down my own thoughts. This will probably be a shorter one for me tonight, but let's get into it! Company on Label: Starlight Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed if it's from Starlight's 3 or 4 grain mash Proof: 114.8° Age: 4 (and a half) years Further identification: This cigar batch is finished in Brazilian Amburana barrels; it is a @bourbonfinds pick that comes from barrel # FB113-1 Nose: Right up front on the nose I find a synthetic vanilla and insanely rich toffee note that comes off the glass like a Falcon 9 at full thrust. The smell of this almost makes me hungry in the same way a really sweet desert can reinvigorate your appetite when you previously thought you were stuffed. There's a rich blackberry jam, dark fig and a very clear & robust mincemeat pie aroma here. It feels incredibly dark, heavy and viscous in the nose. It comes across like tiramisu but cranked up to 11 in intensity with some kind of strange, eclectic cinnamon twist. It's incredibly, incredibly unique, but I can't quite tell if I'm into it just yet. Let's get into a sip. After a sip the nose softens considerably as light notes of those candy dots that come on the strip of paper appear. Lighter wood aromas begin to show up and I'm greeted with more orange tones. Palate: On my first sip I find a very similar story as the nose, but it actually turns out softer here compared to the intensity of the nose which I appreciate in this scenario. Gingerbread cookie, Moroccan oranges, and an ever prevalent mincemeat pie flavor coat the mouth well without being overpowering. There's a significant smokiness hiding out in the linger after waiting a while before another sip. After going for another I find more orange peel, funky mesquite wood, and something synthetic out of the 90s that I just can't quite place. The linger is nice on this being on the lighter side with cooler fruit tones bubbling off the surface of my tongue. Oh wow. I just figured out the synthetic note... It reminds me of camping out on a brand new portable air mattress; it's that new-plastic smell that is incredibly potent, so much so that it transfers to the palate here as well. Nearing the bottom of the glass I am finding that I'm oddly accepting of some of these incredibly strange flavors that seems to be coming together in the end. My last sip is certainly on the spicier side with clove and nutmeg as well as a flash of soft cherry. The finish is drying with a medium linger of plum and rich earth tones. Rating: 2/5 (Not good... Doesn't please my palate.) Overall, I can definitely appreciate a brand trying something as unique as this. At the same time this feels so different just for the sake of being different and overall I'd definitely say the typical flavors found throughout these Amburana barrel finished releases just might not be for my palate. I know some are crazy for this stuff and by all means I'm not saying this is a bad whiskey with a 2 score here; it just doesn't agree with my flavor interests personally. I will say this pick is significantly better than 1 of the previous Cigar Batch barrels that I've tried... Maybe they just need to be paired with the right cigar to properly unlock the right flavors; who knows! I do know I love Starlight distillate, so this miss won't put me off of them by any means. Cheers!

Left Glass > Right Glass, but they are incredibly close Reveal: Left Glass = 13 Year Right Glass = Single to in terms of quality and will likely not represent the entirety of their line, as is expected with single Russell's 13 comes with a white top label and a blue bottom label; it is NCF stated Russell’s Reserve Single

~4 year MGP rye, ~5 year Alberta rye, and ~15 year Light Whiskey Further identification: This is a single

Palate is very light still but a syrupy cherry note melts into a brown sugar and leather base.

Occasionally the nose still drifts off to a farm somewhere with the mash bill grains showing off. Finish is low & slow, but a creamy presence asserts itself still.