Blackadder

• INDEPENDENT BOTTLER
• OWNER: BLACKADDER INTERNATIONAL

Named for a persecuted Scottish minister—and not the Rowan Atkinson sitcom—Blackadder is an independent bottler found mostly in Britain, but with occasional sightings in the United States.

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Black Snake

VAT NO. 2 / SECOND VENOM

The second release of the second in the Black Snake series, it’s a vatting of several barrels from an undisclosed distillery, which are first married in ex-oloroso butts. Non–chill filtered, with no color added.

• PRICE $$$ · RATING
• AGE No age statement
• ALC/VOL 57.7%
• NOSE Artificial fruit candy, moss, sandalwood, creosote, cherry juice, and fig jam; with water, you find grape skins, fresh bread, maple, caramel, roasted meat, and rum raisin.
• PALATE Syrupy with a big sherry hit up front, along with sultanas, dried cherries, leather, and creosote; water adds a rubbery note, yet also sweetens it somewhat. The finish is dry and relatively quick.
• GENERAL A huge whisky, with so much going on—chewy, juicy, and smoky. If you like a like a big, thick single malt, look no further.