This unique whiskey from West Virginia’s Smooth Ambler Distillery blends its own Yearling wheated and young (hence the name) Bourbon with the 7-year-old sourced whiskey used in its Old Scout Bourbon. The result has a good balance of spices and sweetness on the nose with notes of allspice, clove, vanilla, oak, molasses, and a hint of cocoa. The taste starts off sweet with molasses and honey, but it’s not long before the spices take over with a blast of cinnamon and clove that lasts and lasts, but still doesn’t overpower the molasses, honey, and vanilla notes underneath. The finish is long and dry with touches of oak and lingering spices. (June, 2015)