Pappy Van Winkle 2009 20 Year Old Family Reserve 100% Stitzel-Weller

Nose: Stewed fruits on the nose, sweet spices, oiliness, white chocolate, walnut.

Palate: Rich, soft and sweet oak with custard. The mouthfeel is like silk, and Preston Van Winkle likens this to a classic Cognac, and we reckon he’s onto something. The maturity, smooth/oily feel of this on the tongue, coupled with musty fruitiness sum up what we love about a decent XO, this is sublime.

Finish: Good length, with hints of honeycomb, peppery spices and prune.