The latest in the Tun 1401 series. Batch 5 is a UK/EU release; 9 casks. 5 American Oak ('66, '72, '73, '74, '91) and 4 sherry butts ('70, '71, '72, '75). About $240 on release.
N: Lightly earthy initially - slight hints of wet clay. Dried fruit emerges shortly thereafter. Light hint of tobacco; orange top notes. Lush but showing some agreeable age. A slightly dry nose with some white pepper. Over time, a nutty sherry note opens up.
P: Mouth coating and full without being oily or syrupy. Nice notes of light cinnamon, a touch of nutmeg; oranges providing some gentle vibrancy on the top end. A nice, leathery earthiness rovides body where some dark fruit provides a little contrast. Bourbon influence evident as well - slightly sharp (which is not negative). White pepper and some gentle heat. Gently nutty.
F: Nice - cinnamon leads initially, gently woody. Nice earthy fruitiness again. A faint flash of star anise; the orange note then takes the lead with some nutmeg and settles onto a spicy wood note - cinnamon again. Overall there's a light tobacco profile that mixes beautifully with some old wood.
This benefits greatly from some time in the glass. It's really nice; the bourbon profile is stronger than batch 3 and it lacks the lushnes of that batch. This has just a little more spice and sharpness, but that's not strictly a negative. It's really enjoyable to be sure. This just highlights the freakish greatness of batch 3.
Not as much varnishy stuff in the palate as advertised by the nose. Semi-dry and tasty, mildly spicy, honey, tobacco, and leathery something. In the finish the oak shows through, with tea. Tannins hit in a way that's slightly too sharp.
It's very good stuff, great with a cigar perhaps. But it tends towards too woody-bitter for me -- not overwhelmingly so, or even close, but enough to keep the grade at "only" a B+.
Batch #3 in comparison is sweeter, bigger, fruitier, and just deeper. The finish there has a zing that's not in #5. Here, it's a milder rush of tobacco-oak.
Still it's delicious and there are huge similarities between the two. Great personal example of a B+ vs. an A-.
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