Pappy Van Winkle Special 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

Pappy Van Winkle Special 12 Year Old

Firstly, Van Winkle Special Reserve is the perfect combination of age and proof. This sweet, full-bodied whiskey has been described by some as “nectar.” The 12 years of aging and medium proof seem to be just right in creating a very pleasant drink of whiskey. This fine bourbon can compete with any excellent cognac as an after-dinner drink. The overall impression is rich and deep.

I can’t tell when this one was bottled, probably not too long ago. I would tend to find these Pappies ‘excellent, not great’. Colour: reddish amber. Nose: whiffs of stewed redcurrants and rhubarb at first, which is obviously superb, fresh and wonderfully nose-tickling, then cedarwood and incense, then the all-expected vanillas, toffees, coconut wines and varnishes. Funny nose that goes from the exceptional to the almost mundane. Pappy Van Winkle Special 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

Mouth: no denying, this starts very well, almost ‘fruity’, but it’s getting dry, too much on coffee dregs and bitter chocolate for me. Biting heavy-toasted oak chips. Nicer sourness in the background, could be that the redcurrants are back. Finish: ambivalent. Nice marmalades and bitter oaks and black tobacco and tea. Some biting old-school Ténarèze in the aftertaste – not joking! Comments: looks like these Pappies vary a lot.