New Release: KINGSBARNS 2 Year Old Official 'Spirit Drink' 62.8%

I was able to taste the new baby of Rolland Malt. KINGSBARNS 2 Year Old Official Bottling 'Spirit Drink' 62.8% One of 1800 First Fill Bourbon Barrels The aroma features youthful malt and spirit notes, pickled radish, vanilla, and coconut oil. Upon drinking, there's a spicy, tingling sensation with citrus and grassy notes, vanilla, and a youthful new pot still character, but also a moist sweetness, citrus acidity, and a smooth, lingering finish. KINGSBARNS, a distillery in Rolland that started operations in 2014. The distillation and bottling processes are carried out within the distillery's facilities. This spirit drink was released exclusively by the distillery this year. Aged for 2 years in first-fill bourbon barrels, limited to 1800 bottles. Given the 2-year aging at this strength, it's likely not a middle-cut directly barrel-filled as some recent trends suggest, but rather adjusted with water to the traditional 63.5% before being barrel-filled. Despite the fast maturation in first-fill bourbon barrels, after 2 years, it strongly retains a new pot still spirit character with some feint-like qualities, not giving much of the whisky drinking experience. However, the nuances of vanilla and coconut typical of bourbon casks are present, along with citrusy fruitiness. There's no extreme off-flavor, so as a maturation process at this stage, it seems good. Moreover, since the distillery aims for a Rolland style, the lack of heaviness and smooth body despite this cask strength aligns with their intended approach. I'm looking forward to seeing how the maturation progresses in the future.