Food & Drink

Review: Old Line Spirits Single Malt – Port Cask and Madeira Cask

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We’ve been tinkering with the one malt whiskeys and rums of Baltimore’s Old Line Spirits for slightly over a 12 months now, and the operation appears to be hitting its stride with the discharge of recent merchandise, together with a current bonded whiskey expression. We’re again at it for the third time in 2022 with our first take a look at its Double Oak Collection, variously completed single malts of which Previous Line has launched at the least 5 up to now. Previous Line supplies copious details about its getting older and ending course of on the bottles, which we’ll digest beneath.

Each of the whiskeys reviewed right here really shipped in late 2021, so we’re a bit late on the draw on these. That stated, slightly internet looking reveals that each are nonetheless obtainable, albeit not broadly. With apologies for the delay, let’s dig in.

Each are 100 proof.

Previous Line American Single Malt Whiskey Port Cask – Aged 3.5 years in new oak, then 6 months in Tawny Port casks. Extremely darkish in coloration, fairly fetching. Racy on the nostril at 50% abv, aromas run to darkish chocolate, recent floor espresso, and that traditional raisiny Port character slightly below the floor. Immersive but spicy, what’s misplaced right here is the whiskey base; that that is single malt is actually by no means evident from nosing. The palate bursts with Port notes — six months doesn’t sound like lengthy nevertheless it’s actually gone full-bore on this whiskey. Amidst all of the plum and raisin parts, some cereal notes ultimately come into focus, however they’re gentle, pairing properly with the smoldering dessert-like parts. All of it results in a winey, evenly oxidized end laced with drip espresso and a few bruleed banana — once more, quite a bit like Tawny Port. For followers of the style — that’s, closely wine-soaked whiskeys — this can hit the spot. A- / $75

Previous Line American Single Malt Whiskey Madeira Cask – Aged 3.3 years in new oak, then 10 months in Madeira casks. Burnt orange in coloration, with a traditional Madeira nostril of oxidized wine, burnt walnuts, and (once more) ample warmth. Gently grainy right here, with a light-weight undercurrent of peanut shells and cloves. The palate retains the theme — intense, closely Maderized wine — and folds in solely slightly additional nuance: orange peel, cardamom, and a few black pepper. However actually it’s the Madeira present all through, racy and slightly bitter, peppery, and uniquely laden with outdated wine parts. Madeira’s an acquired style to start with, however right here it feels much more intense, a deep dive into a specific type of wine, with a pointy, peppery end. Once more, the underlying whiskey fades shortly into the background, for higher or for worse. B / $75

oldlinespirits.com

Previous Line American Single Malt Whiskey Madeira Cask

$75

Ranking


8.0/10

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