Noah’s Mill is a whiskey of real heft. It’s bottled at 57.15% ABV (114.3 proof), but its strength doesn’t mask its character. Its fifteen years in American white oak have given it the weight and the body to match its sheer potency, and it’s all the brighter for it.
On the nose, the first thing you’ll get is the real acetylene kick of the alcohol. There’s no disguising it, and it really puts you on notice that you’d better be ready for what’s coming. This isn’t a gentle sipper. Steel yourself for it and you’ll be rewarded, though. Behind the coconut frosting, amidst the perennial bourbon palette of sweet vanilla and warm toffee is a beguiling mélange of darker notes. There’s blackberry, aniseed and fiery black pepper. There’s a lot on offer here: rather than the sweetly genteel warmth of a Kentucky afternoon, it’s the sultry, aggressive heat of a summer night.
The taste follows where the scent has led. It’s chewy and peppery on the tongue, as syrupy manuka honey competes with piquant spice. With every sip the fight begins anew, and the balance oscillates intriguingly. Yes, it’s a little inconsistent, but it’s also lively and bright in a way that reminds me of young Yoichi with a bolder body.
The finish is treacly and resinous, with hints of a much fresher sweetness – almost mint – that hasn’t really been there before. Add water and it becomes lighter, but also loses something of its essence. Without the robustness it’s slightly bitter, and feels a little flimsy. It’s more quaffable, to be sure, but not so much as to make up for what’s been lost. Keep this at full strength: you owe it to yourself to see what lurks in its sultry depths.
Nose 20 Taste 21 Finish 19 Balance 20
Overall 80
Great write up!
I find that with a bit of water, and about 5-7 minutes of breathing this whiskey really comes alive in a splendid way. Drinking it at strength kills my palate a bit and makes me miss a lot of the notes, but that may just be me. I definitely found that leaving it sit in the glass for a handful of minutes made a WORLD of difference for this dram however. I love the sweet mellowness of this whiskey once its fully opened. It hides its strength remarkably well behind the wall of flavor. I agree that this is a complex and often hard to put your finger on, but (as a bourbon lover) its a absolute win for me.
Slainte,
Chuck
http://www.whiskeyworldtour.com
Chuck, thanks for reading and commenting! One of the most interesting things about whisk(e)y is finding out what other people make of it too – especially when they have a slightly different take. I think I was just bowled away by how well the flavours and aromas came through despite the strength with this one, and in contrast to several others I’ve tried. It’s a real treat for bourbon lovers though, as you say.
I think that’s what sold me on NM as well. Despite being cask strength, it has such a great balance of bold and delicate flavors all riding that high proof number. I’m not quite sure how they did it; moreover, i’m not quite sure how they did it AND kept the price under $50 for the bottle. Either way, I, and the rest of the whiskey community, are very thankful.
Chuck