Review #216: Stranahan’s Distiller’s Experimental Series Coupe Vol. 2 “MadCab”

MASH BILL: 100% malted barley 

AGE: 8yrs (4+ years finishing in Madeira and Cabernet Sauvignon casks)

PROOF: 116.8 

COST: $40 for 375mL bottle (at distillery)

I picked up this bottle at Stranahan’s distillery last year around September and immediately fell in love with it as a winter sipper. I had a few pours of it through the holidays last year and then set it aside as the weather warmed up. Now that we’re back into the winter holidays, I’ve busted it back out to enjoy some more and will inevitably kill it this season. Aged for FOUR PLUS years in Madeira and Cabernet Sauvignon casks, this is packed with notes that remind me of Christmas. If you happen to be reading this today, Merry Christmas to you! I hope you’re sipping on something tasty today! Hopefully you’ll enjoy this festive twist of a review.

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Deep garnet in color (1.9), oily looking, medium viscosity, slow thin legs. 

NOSE: Plum and fig chutney and cinnamon sticks greet me at the door of this handsomely decorated holiday home and invite me in. Sticky dates, cacao, and black licorice give me a warm holiday hug. Stewed red fruit and sweet malt drag me towards the heart of this cozy home.

PALATE: In the kitchen I’m offered sticky, sweet spitzbuben Christmas cookies filled with red currant, fig, plum, and strawberry jams. Flavors of warm pie crust with black cherry filling and cinnamon raisin bread provide anticipation of what’s to come. I’m handed a glass of white wine and a small plate of buttery toffee cake and invited to sit by a warm fire giving off notes of charred oak. A steaming pot of Wassel in the corner of the kitchen provides a lovely backdrop to all the sweet fruit notes.

FINISH: As the evening comes to an end and it’s time for me to make my way home, I’m given a cinnamon apple garnished red wine cocktail with a slice of spice cake to go. Notes of sticky dates, fig, red currant, and raisins carry with me as I head toward the door. Cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg give me a warm hug at the door. A final note of seasoned oak and spice carried me all the way back home.

RATING: 9.1/10

OVERALL: I’ve had over a year to enjoy this bottle and I’ve chosen to milk it. Only being 375mL, I’m surprised it lasted this long – I’ll let my wife know I can be disciplined. This is an absolute joy of a sip! The festive holiday notes throughout it are absolutely on point for Christmas! I always buy a bottle of Midwinter Nights Dram for those lovely, cozy holiday notes. But this expression…crème de la crème for holiday notes! Seriously! If I would have known it was going to be this good I would have picked up a few bottles of this while I was at the distillery. I was a little worried about the 4+ years finishing in Madeira and Cab casks, but it absolutely is what makes this pour! 

Hopefully my meandering Christmas themed review landed alright for you, but if not, my next review will be back to normal with no frills. Merry Christmas to all of you that celebrate the holiday. If not, happy holidays and I hope whatever you celebrate is stellar for you and I hope you all have a wonderful New Year! Cheers!

 

1 | Disgusting | see my 1/10 ratings

2 | Poor | see my 2/10 ratings

3 | Bad | see my 3/10 ratings

4 | Sub-par | see my 4/10 ratings

5 | Good | see my 5/10 ratings

6 | Very Good | see my 6/10 ratings

7 | Great | see my 7/10 ratings

8 | Excellent | see my 8/10 ratings

9 | Incredible | see my 9/10 ratings

10 | Perfect | see my 10/10 ratings