Aged: 7 years

Mash Bill: Barley 5-malt

Alc%/Vol: 51.4

Length Of Finish: 3 Year Finish

Barrel: Banyuls

Bottle Proof: 102.8

Bottle Count: 222 bottles

What Is Banyuls: “Banyuls is a French appellation d’origine contrôlée for a fortified apéritif or dessert wine made from old vines cultivated in terraces on the slopes of the Catalan Pyrenees in the Roussillon county of France, bordering, to the south, the Empordà wine region in Catalonia in Spain.” (thanks, Wikipedia!)

Tasting Notes: Banyuls, oh sweet sweet Banyuls. This was the first cask selected of the day and it was nearly love at first taste. I try to never impulsively pick barrels on a sip alone, but this challenged my resolve. Beautiful warm bread, malt, cocoa, caramelized sugar and sweet oak on the nose. The palate is rich and full of a blossom of orange peel, fresh red cherries, blackberries, leather, expressive tannin and a pop of black pepper and spice, Long finish winds together viscosity, sweet cherry reduction, blackberry syrup, a pop of decadent balsamic and a finish that carries for miles.