The Arran Devil’s Punch Bowl Ch. 1 (30 ml magical reagent vial)

Tasting notes:
     Imagine big, rich kiwi rinds, woven into a sticky, dripping chain like construction paper garland at Christmas.  Now imagine that garland encircling the finest coconut meat you’ve ever tried, laid out in a display that is only a pig and some poi away from being a full luau feast.  Well, that’s just the beginning of the nose on this dram.  It wafts, it waxes, it wanes, it slices, it dices, it’ll find that slipper that’s been at large under the chaise lounge for several weeks…  The nose is so alive and…well, lively that it feels like a cartoon odor wafting with great cunning and mischievousness. It opened Bill’s second sinus.  All the while, the three of us couldn’t help but wish that stores smelled like this, even though simultaneously, we wished they didn’t, lest we be unnaturally tempted to buy everything in them as a result.  There’s definitely something to the name of this dram.  The mouth is big and fast, but with a portentous bit of anticipation, like that moment after cramming a whole box of fine, handmade chocolates into your mouth all at once when you’re waiting for the buzz to hit.  The finish presents with a microclimate tornado on the palate that neither the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nor The Weather Channel could’ve seen coming.  The effect is superb.  And just when you think it’s over, a caramelized orange rolls onto the stage of your palate, positions itself center stage, and exclaims, “Excelsior!!!”  Damn straight.  

   
  




Rating:

Our thanks to Sam Filmus and ImpEx for the sample!