Nose: All star nose. Grenadine syrup, star of anise, bourbon soaked cherries. The brûlée part of the creme brûlée without the cream. I guess that is basically smoked rock candy?!? Or those bright red cinnamon glazed apples. Touch of barbecue.
Palate: Sweet warmth. Licorice, cinnamon buns and baklava. Instantly followed by a pucker, tart red plums and balsamic vinegar. And a bit of burnt salted caramel. Such a great balance of tart and sweet. It is thinner than the nose implies but is quite delicious when you take your time.
Rating: 7 / 10 – As long as you don’t let the nose set your expectations for syrupy goodness, this bottle is a delight. It isn’t a small sipper though, which is tough at these sample sizes. A touch more concentrated and it would be truly special.
