I’ll admit upfront, I’m a big fan of just about anything coming out of Dark Arts, especially when it involves extended aging and finishing. The first thing that struck me about this bottle is its appearance. The whiskey is strikingly dark, almost molasses-like in the glass, which immediately hints at the richness to come.
Nose
Right out of the bottle, the aroma is dark, rich, and fruit-forward. Dark cherries jump out almost immediately, followed a few moments later by a wave of grape notes. Beneath all that dark fruit sits a subtle layer of molasses. If you search for it, you can initially pick up some rye spice, though it’s tucked behind the fruit early on. After letting the glass rest for a bit, the rye character becomes more assertive, bringing black pepper and spice forward alongside the persistent grape note. For me, that grape character weaves through every stage of the nosing experience, even after tasting, which I suspect is coming from the Armagnac cask influence.
Palate
The first word that comes to mind on the palate is dense, not necessarily in mouthfeel, but in flavor intensity. Dark caramel appears immediately, followed by a hint of molasses. The sweetness is prominent, but just as it begins to approach the edge of being too sweet, the rye spice steps in. Clove and peppery rye spice take over on the mid-palate, balancing the sweetness and carrying through toward the finish. Along the way, there are subtle notes of mild tobacco, faint molasses, and even a touch of saltine cracker. At 113.3 proof, the ethanol presence is noticeable but well-integrated, helping keep the sweetness in check.
Finish
The finish opens with tobacco and sweet molasses, followed by a satisfying ethanol warmth that lingers nicely. As it develops, it becomes noticeably drier, with oak, tobacco, and faint molasses forming the final impression. Of those notes, the dry oak and tobacco combination lingers the longest, leaving a pleasantly structured and mature finish.