It’s been six months since I started my whiskey project in February and I took the opportunity to taste the experiment this morning.

I meticulously took tasting notes over the first three months but have not taken a sample since April.  My reasoning was that after the booze was sloshing around in its barrel in the back of a U-Haul over the course of a cross country drive, I would let the liquor sit undisturbed for a bit.  Although I can’t say that the moonshine is amazing, it has been fascinating seeing how much flavor barrel aging can impart on a liquid.

Before I poured two liters of white dog whiskey into my miniature barrel, I tasted it.  Rum-like, sweet and fruity were the flavors that came to mind.  This morning, my whiskey poured a dark amber and besides the remnants floating in my glass, it looked like a legitimate whiskey!

After taking a soft sniff the smell was pleasant.  However, after taking a big whiff my nostrils were blown away by a sharp alcohol nose and a strong, stinging bite.  The taste has mellowed a touch, but it is still a sweet fire.  It’s slightly fruity at first—a throw back to the apple-notes in the original white dog whiskey—but the lingering burn hits woody, smokier notes.

I haven’t gone blind yet, so perhaps this will be the start of my moonshinin’ career?