Review #: 248
Description: Waterloo Antique Gin: Main Street Liquors
Spirit: Gin
Background: One of the more interesting things I have had the opportunity to try so it was hard to say no to. This is a single cask of aged gin coming from Treaty Oak Distilling where it was aged in Texas in a rye barrel (#205) for SEVEN YEARS! Not only is that an insane time for any spirit in the Texan climate, it’s longer than I’ve ever heard of for a gin. It’s bottled at cask strength as well…74.4%. I’m not sure whether they barrel it at still strength or bring it down and it increased due to the hot weather. Regardless, this is sure to be an experience. Selected by Main Street Liquors (not sure what city).
Distillery – Treaty Oak
Bottler – Treaty Oak
Brand – Waterloo
Selection – Main Street Liquors
ABV – 74.4%
Age – 7 Years
Nose – Definitely a lot of barrel influence: caramel, vanilla, there is some grapefruit in there, touch of mint leaf which could be some of the rye influence, a little bit of dark chocolate. Just the slightest hint of pine/juniper, but it would be easy to mistake this as a rye whiskey with a little bit of herbal/menthol note to it. Surprisingly, the ethanol does not come across in the nose at all. Smells like <60%. More airtime brings out more citrus and chocolate and some eucalyptus.
Taste – Pretty sweet, gooey caramel, fudge, lots of grapefruit. Kind of tastes like brownie batter that uses grapefruit zest and oil in it.
Finish – Hits hard and some more of the juniper comes in, eucalyptus, burnt caramel, toasted bread, citrus turns slightly sour, a bit of savory oak. Surprisingly not as aggressive as I was expecting for 74.4%.
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? I think so
Thoughts: This certainly is interesting. I will say, I was expecting this to be a hot and over-oaked mess yet it was neither. It reminded me of the Four Pillars with how much citrus oil came through, but I think the barrel helped compliment it. It’s sweet but pretty dang complex and far easier to drink than I thought it would be. You really can’t approach it as a regular gin nor a whisky, but it is so different and interesting I think I would want a bottle. There is some cocktail out there that would be perfect for this, but don’t expect it to work with any that you just substitute it for a normal gin.