Buttercream frosting | Maple syrup | Toasted oak | Leather | Caramel | Aromatic

Warm baking spices | Maple sugar candy | Brown sugar | Caramel | Dense oak | Tobacco | Dark cherry | Rich

Slight baking spices | Cinnamon | Caramelized brown sugar | Light seasoned oak | Hint of maple sugar sweetness | Roasted mixed nuts | Long

Sapsquatch Batch SB-4 is the third Sapsquatch blend. The company draws from its lot of barrels sourced from numerous distilleries for Sapsquatch blends, which typically contain an estimated 10-30 barrels, ranging from 6-8 years old. Distilleries typically include Jim Beam, Barton, Bardstown Bourbon Company, and MGP. Mashbills vary, but 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley and 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley are most common.

Finishing with maple syrup can be tricky, and with Sapsquatch, the Shortbarrel team approached the process a little differently to control the impact of the maple syrup without risking it taking over. First, they transfer the base blend to stainless steel tanks where they “condition” the whiskey for 6-8 weeks using sugar maple infusion spirals, which is intended to “lay down a foundation of maple-driven depth, caramelized sugar, and toasted nut character.” After that, they transfer to toasted Kelvin barrels that previously held maple syrup, which was sourced from Vermont for this blend (Ohio-sourced maple syrup has also been used).

This whiskey looks beautiful in the glass, with a deep mahogany color. It brings all kinds of sweet scents on the nose, with grounding notes of toasted oak and leather keeping it in balance. It hits the palate with a pop of warm baking spices that amp up the intensity before spilling over into a barrage of sweet flavors, which are grounded by savory tobacco and dense oak. The delivery is rich and spicy, which also helps keep the sweet flavors in check. It closes with a light rush of spice, followed by persistently balanced sweet and savory notes. Roasted mixed nuts creep in on the long finish, adding a new layer of depth.

This third edition of Shortbarrel Sapsquatch is a banger; it has tons of flavor that runs the gamut from intensely sweet to rich and savory. The proof is dialed back a bit from barrel proof (presumably), which lands right as it still brings plenty of intensity without overpowering its wide range of flavors. The maple syrup's influence is nicely integrated, and the toasted oak barrels seem to complement rather than impose their own notably distinctive flavors. It’s a solid blend and has me anticipating the next iteration in the series.