This is a very nice ripe, like all of recent Scott’s productions. It still has a decent amount of fermentation flavour, but that should dissipate in a few years. I find it to be comparable in quality to Rooster King, but it’s not as sweet, that’s for sure. The smell is a mix of medicinal and chocolate notes, with caramel hints in the empty cup. The taste is bitter, earthy and spicy with a sour finish. I get notes of citrus zest, tree bark and molasses, as well as some coffee in the aftertaste, which I found to be very long and getting sweeter and spicier over time. The body is medium to full and the mouthfeel is creamy and quite mouth-watering. Thanks to the balanced nature and strong, complex profile, I can imagine this tea rivaling Yang Luo Han as my favourite young shou, once a few years have passed and the fermentation notes are not as strong.
Flavors: Bark, Bitter, Caramel, Chocolate, Citrus Zest, Coffee, Earth, Medicinal, Molasses, Spicy
