Pappy Van Winkle 12 year old

Nose: This has a lightly sweet scent, with notes of caramel, vanilla and little bit of raisin and some other fruit-like scents that I can’t quite put my finger on. Although a bit light, it is very inviting. Palate: This is sweet, with a gentle warmth. I picked up the caramel and vanilla from the nose as well as a little toastyness. The mouthfeel is on the light side but very pleasant and slightly oily. There’s no harshness or burn, but it has a nice gentle warming, that picks up as it goes down. I’m not getting any spiciness on this one. It is slightly chewy and leaves a bit of an aftertaste in the back of your throat, but not in a bad way. More in the way of a reminder, “hey you just had a nice sip of something”. The second sip made the heat of the finish feel cinnamony and also brought up some fruity but rich flavors. Comments: This is a very easy sipper and one that I think most people would enjoy. Would it be a favorite? Hmmmm……I really think that depends on your taste. If you like a lot of rye spiciness, this is not going to appeal to you as much as a high rye, but I think even a rye spice fan would appreciate it. This clocks in at 90.4 proof. I have to admit, that knowing what this was before tasting it DID influence my review, even if I tried to be impartial. I was a little more careful, trying to determine different subtleties, etc. Anyone who has tried the different versions of Pappy (10, 12, 15, 23, whatever) has their favorite. I’ve had the good fortune to taste the 23 year old several times and I have to admit that, for the money, I’d rather drink something else (Pappy 12 or 15 or…better yet, Parker’s Heritage Promise of Hope!!). Not that it, or any of the Pappys are bad. All are very drinkable and very enjoyable in their own way.