Charbay Hops Whisky Release R5

Charbay Hops Whisky Release R5

Official bottling
Single malt - California
Amber gold
49.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, elderflower, raisins, edelweiss, malted grains, magic marker, nutmeg, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Elderflower, vanilla, malted grains, magic marker, pear drops, gooseberries, white grapes. 
Finish: Short. Elderflower, vanilla, edelweiss, pear drops, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Floral, delicate and fruity, with very marked alpine flowers notes. It’s subtle whisky, rewards introspection. The nose is lovely and the taste is fleeting. Superbly well constructed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Charbay Whiskey Release III 6 yo

Charbay Whiskey Release III 6 yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - California
Mahogany
66.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, prunes, raisins, tobacco leaf, hops, apricots. With water, honey, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Prunes, red grapes, tobacco leaf, marijuana, dried apricots, hints of sandalwood. With water, sweeter, honey, raisins, sandalwood. 
Finish: Long. Marijuana, red grapes, sandalwood, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

This is hopped beer, distilled into whiskey, so maybe not strictly whiskey. But it's great! Fully sherried, plenty of fruit, and the hops makes it taste herbal, slightly bitter, not unlike, er, weed. Call it a memory of a misspent youth. Fantastic stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.