Heaven Hill Grain to Glass (Distilled in 2017; 2024 Release), 53.5%

Vanilla-almond ice cream, melted caramel, wood spice, char, chocolate-covered raisins, and cigar box aromas. On the palate, balanced pepper spice with dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and blackberry, mellowing with water to pleasant baked chocolate and more blackberry. The finish is long and very spicy, with good interplay of chocolate sweetness, anise, understated dark fruit, and well-balanced oak. A pleasant cross-section of flavors that all work well together. No. 5 in our Top 20 of 2024.