A relative newcomer to the spirits scene, World Whiskey Society was began in 2020 with a mission to obtain, bottle, and promote “an ultra-premium assortment of uncommon expressions beforehand unavailable to even probably the most refined whiskey lovers.” Their choices so far have been primarily American whiskeys — many with secondary cask finishes — although bottlings have additionally included extremely aged Scotch and Japanese single malts.
Their newest whiskey would possibly simply be probably the most intriguing, at the least to followers of high-proof spirits. Wyatt Earp American Whiskey Hazmat Version 13 Years Previous clocks in at an eye-popping 164.67 proof, nicely above the 140 proof threshold generally known as “hazmat” within the spirits area. It was initially distilled at Charbay Distillery in California and aged for 13 years in a heavy toast barrel. The whiskey was distilled from a mashbill of 73 % malted barley, 14.9 % malted rye, and 12.1 % malted wheat.
Let’s see how this whiskey boasting 80+% abv tastes — protecting gear elective.
The nostril isn’t practically the ethanol overload one would possibly anticipate. As a substitute, it begins off like a flaming plum pudding. Darkish raisin, dried apricot, almond extract, dried orange peel, brown sugar, and blackcurrant lead. Vinegar-based barbecue sauce additionally wafts out of the glass after just a few extra minutes. There’s warmth there, to make certain, but it surely by no means appears to relegate any explicit scent to the margins. Simply past these preliminary aromas comes a hearty dose of malt akin to sturdy barleywine. It’s potent, to make certain, however I discovered myself taking lengthy sniffs with out risking nostril burnout!
The nostril might not have hit me with the total power of its proof, however a primary sip certain did: That is scorching, flavorful, and lasting, with flavors evolving throughout the palate lengthy after the whiskey is gone. Darkish, candy BBQ sauce coats the tongue with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, mesquite, and stewed raisin. When you’re acclimated to the palate — in case you ever really can at 160 proof — second and third sips are far sweeter, wealthy in additional raisin, black cherry, and dried fig. Maybe it’s partially as a result of alcohol kick, however coupled with these darkish, syrupy flavors, the midpalate evokes a very darkish caramel pineapple the wrong way up cake. (And whereas pineapple could cause a light-weight tingling sensation attributable to its excessive bromelain content material, ingesting greater than small sips of this whiskey is numbing to an exponentially larger diploma.)
The end continues that sweet-and-spicy barbecue thread whereas layering in barley wine and barrel char. It’s a protracted remaining act, however one which doesn’t linger merely on the again of its terribly excessive abv.
Enjoying round with dilution — and actually, how may you not? — brings ahead extra pronounced combos of darkish fruit, together with elevated almond and caramel. (Marzipan followers ought to maintain a dropper shut at hand.)
Wyatt Earp American Whiskey Hazmat Version 13 Years Previous is definite to spark dialog as a curiosity. That’s nearly simple. However I do hope a few of these bottles truly get opened, as a result of there’s a fascinating whiskey hiding behind the proof.
A- / $249 / worldwhiskey.com
World Whiskey Society Wyatt Earp Hazmat Version 13 Years Previous
$249
