Van Brunt Stillhouse Single Malt Whiskey 750ml Bottle

Tonight’s dram takes me (virtually) to Broklyn, New York, to the Van Brunt Stillhouse. The Van Brunt single malt opens with caramel, pine needles, and cinnamon, followed by coffee, milk chocolate, and vanilla, then toffee, turning to burnt brown sugar, more pine needles, and chestnuts. For some reason Euell Gibbons comes to mind… The thin-but-clingy legs deliver a medium-long finish of spicy toffee with orange and citrus zest. To say this is a unique dram is a major understatement. One minute, I reall like it – the next minute, I am doubting my liking. The caramel/toffee bring the sweet, countered by the bitterness of the pine needles, but they seem to be battling for the palate, rather than complimenting/offsetting each other. Having said that, I just added Grape Nuts to my shopping list for some unknown reason… Just for grins, this is one of the tasting notes I found: “The new oak expresses itself front and center, with dill, oregano and celery seed herbaceousness, white flower and honeysuckle in the mid palate, with banana and caramel in the finish. Stuck the landing nicely - not too hot! Tastes young, but not green." To each, his own… Drink slow, drink long, drink a variety, drink often.