Shortbarrel The Afterswarm II Double Barrelled Honey Cask Finished Toasted Straight Rye Whiskey (2025) (75cl, 55.3%)

A straight rye whiskey from Shortbarrel of Atlanta, bottled at 55.3% in a 75cl bottle. It is a blend of mature rye whiskeys on a 95/5 rye base, finished and matured in Kelvin barrels that have first been conditioned with raw Georgia wildflower honey. The honey soaks into the staves and is then removed, so the influence comes from the wood alone, with nothing added to the whiskey itself. The Afterswarm II is one of two Afterswarm releases, which differ only in the honey used to condition the barrels. The nose offers honeycomb, vanilla cream, toasted marshmallow, lemon and floral notes. The palate is barrel-aged honey, brown sugar, apple streusel pie and allspice. The finish brings butterscotch, clover honey, cinnamon, rye spice, black pepper and sweet oak.