This 5-year-old Bourbon is bottled by Ascendant Spirits in California’s Santa Barbara County, and comes from an undisclosed distiller while the company builds up its own stocks of maturing whiskey.

The nose has a good oakiness, along with vanilla, caramel, molasses, and ginger notes in good balance. The taste starts off with a strong note of caramel apples and peaches, followed by cinnamon spice, vanilla, and hints of brown sugar and molasses underneath. The finish is lingering and fruity with apple and peach notes, along with a mild cinnamon spiciness. It’s not quite a traditional Bourbon taste, but still appealing. (January, 2014)