SMWS B3.7 Rock Town 4 2015 "Halloween night at the rodeo"

Coming back with another bourbon I figured I’d take a shot on after I found B3.5 to be rather unique. The name evokes pleasant images, but does seem like a hard one to live up to. Does it?

Rock Town 4, 2015 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society B3.7, Arkansas Bourbon, 58.7% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on June 19, 2015 and matured in a charred new oak barrel for 4 years yielding 195 bottles. Rather than getting a flavor profile that malt and grain whiskies get, this is part of the grey label spirits line named “Halloween night at the rodeo”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn, with water added later on.

Color: Old oak, 1.8.

Nose: Wood, molasses, root/birch beer. Water does give it a “Halloweeny” sweetness.

Taste: Spicy, sweet and bitter come in. A bit like candy corn, actually. Woody with water.

Finish: Medium-long. Rye bread into root beer. Much spice with water.

I like it similarly to B3.5 but it feels less unique to me, and lacks the musty quality I enjoyed most about it. Despite it being very hard to get to the nose through the ethanol, water did not really improve it. It was easier to nose, but less pleasant on the palate. Kudos on the cask selection for a Halloween release, as it did touch some notes thereabout.

Score: 80