Another Verdant club sample :)
The blend smells exactly like Christmas pudding, it’s remarkable! It has an orange, raisin, malt essence that is the spit of Christmas Pudding, I have never sniffed anything that is a perfect match before. It should perhaps be known that I thoroughly enjoy the smell of Christmas pudding but am not a fan of eating it, so I opt out each year. That will make this an interesting tea to taste. But when you think about it a Christmas pudding is usually coated in whiskey and set alight so perhaps that is where the whisky part of this comes from? Bourbon and whisky being very similar and both favourites of mine.
Steeping 5g of this into my 200ml gongfu (which is just under 8oz) with freshly boiled water.
The tea colour is golden brown (much a like bourbon/whisky) and has a sweet yet roasted scent, reminds me of rooibos.
Flavour is of medium strength with a touch of smoke and malt which dominate a sweet rooibos base. After taste is sweet like vanilla or almond, more than just the rooibos, and it lingers on the tongue. Also has a light leather taste after a few sips. As it cools it picks up a sour tone and becomes honeyed.
Does it taste like bourbon? Honestly no, though I would say it has a some resemblance. It’s an enjoyable blend and I am very happy to have tried this one. I would buy this one. I find it tastes better as it cools, becomes more bourbon like when it’s luke warm. :)
Flavors: Honey, Malt, Orange, Raisins, Vanilla