Dark Arts Whiskey House Madeira Finished Bourbon Stuff & Whiskey Single Barrel Selection

DARK ARTS WHISKEY HOUSE “MACAULAY’S MARVELOUS MADEIRA” Straight bourbon whiskey finished in a madeira wine cask selected by Stuff & Whiskey Batch No.: M101 Proof: 113.5 Age: 8 Years State of Distillation: Indiana Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Nose: On first smell, is it possible that this is just straight up barrel aged maple syrup? Sheesh! As more air gets into the glass the nuances start to come out with notes of caramel, walnut, stewed purple fruits, and a welcomed flamed orange peel to bring some brighter sweetness to all the darkness. Palate: Nobody is mistaking this for an unfinished whiskey, and while not typically fans of finished bourbons (as we tend to prefer finished ryes), this one works–and it works exceedingly well. The maple syrup note is just the intro before the rush of stewed purple fruits, barrel funk (in a great way), cobbler with the crust, and the sensation of the 36% rye spice tingle on the tongue to keep this pour from going all-sweet.  E