I have been looking forward to getting my hands on John Chester Ross & Sons. Bottled at 100 proof and priced at $75, it promises genuine character.
Nose
A high-wheat (80%) whiskey, finished in port barrels; 100 proof; about $75. Appearance: Aside from the bottle looking super-cool and old-timey in the most flattering way, its reddish brown in the bottle, like a shiny mahogany floor or a well-brushed horse mane. In the glass: polished copper, or dark toffee. New-mown grass in the late morning sun. And lets just continue that toffee story, shall we? Because its got that browned butter and sugar meld late on the nose as well. And finally, honeycrisp apple.
Palate
Aside from the bottle looking super-cool and old-timey in the most flattering way, its reddish brown in the bottle, like a shiny mahogany floor or a well-brushed horse mane. In the glass: polished copper, or dark toffee. This is very nice! It begins honey but not cloying, like a honey caramel and then tingles at the finish. The vibe is cinnamon pop-rocksbut without the weird artificial flavoring. As if you had a sip of whiskey and then a hit of a sparkling water. Its a fun little frizzy fizz, like old timey Kansas City, I suppose. Its refreshing, in a summery way, I do not often think about whiskey in the summerand that is dumb. Its sippable easily, maybe a little too easily. The port cask finishing adds smoothness and that sort of sweet without being too much, just enough to smooth out any rough edges, which I dont think this whiskey has in the first place. Id drink this neat and dont think it requires a single droplet of water or sliver of ice.
Finish
This is lovely and Im glad to have tried it. Its 100 proof and tastes every bit of it, but I wouldnt let that scare you. Nope! Not at all. I hope you get to enjoy this as much as I did.
The Bottom Line
John Chester Ross & Sons delivers the goods. It is well-made, genuinely enjoyable, and at $75 represents solid value for what you are getting. I would happily buy this again.
