Two James Spirits – Johnny Smoking Gun Whiskey (75cl, 43.5%)

Johnny Smoking Gun is an American whiskey from Two James Spirits of Detroit, Michigan, bottled at 43.5% in a 75cl bottle. It was made to go with the umami flavours of Japanese food, though it is not a Japanese whisky. The producer describes a blend of 70% seven-year-old corn whiskey and 30% young rye, proofed down with Japanese tea instead of plain water. The smoke comes from a two-stage tea maceration, not from peated grain. The nose offers rosemary, smoke, lemon, dashi and creamed corn. On the palate come tea, caramel, hickory smoke, grilled meat and squash blossom. The finish brings oregano, browned butter, thyme and smoked paprika.