American Whiskey, Very Olde St. Nick, Winter Maple

• Small batch American whiskey produced by Preservation Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky
• A blend of Kentucky bourbon (70–80% corn) and Indiana rye (high rye) distilled at undisclosed distilleries
• Aged for 5–6 years in new American oak then blended and finished in a proprietary combination of American maple and French oak barrels that briefly held Vermont maple syrup; non-age statement
• Blended in micro-batches of 1–3 barrels
• Aromas of Armagnac combine with spiced Marasca sherry juice and orange zest, leading to a touch of sugar icing on the palate and a finish of maple sugar candies and German stollen fruit bread
• Non-chill filtered; bottled at a cask strength of 47–51% ABV (ABV will vary batch to batch)

Among other closely guarded production variables, a kiss of Vermont maple syrup and heavily charred maple wood lead to a perfect balance of bitter, sweet, and strong. VOSN Winter Maple is essentially an Old Fashioned ready to drink (and even though this expression is bottled at cask strength, the finishing process yields an extremely sippable proof); just pour it over a big piece of ice and belly up to the fire.