93 The Whisky Advocate

A dark berry bouquet rises from the glass—blackberry coulis, raisins, quince paste, and mixed berry Pop-Tart mingle with baking spice and buttercream frosting. Fruit flavors persist on the palate, with cherry pie, grape jelly, and Raisinets in full force. Black forest cake and hot cinnamon spice are a mouthwatering addition. Water takes some of that heat off while bringing more espresso and molten lava cake to the fore, making it a definite win for dessert lovers. This one outdid the other Mary Dowling release of this summer—the tequiila barrel finish—although that whiskey did score 90 points.

4+ The Whiskey Wash

An absolutory delightful expression of a double-oaked bourbon, Mary Dowling Whiskey Company has done the spirit of the Mother of Bourbon justice. Their choice of dual-toasted barrels brings an identifiable creaminess and warmth to a usually bitter leaning subtype. Perfect for cold winter nights in front of a fire or early Christmas morning (no judgements here), this dram is a great way to end a weekend or to start a vacation.