Old Forge Chocolate Moonshine

I see that it says recipe number 100 on the label. I assume this is not some internal numbering system, and they actually went through hundred different recipes before they landed on this. I know they have many moonshines under their belts, and it would be nice to imagine that all of that crafting and years of testing have brought a moonshine that will really knock my socks off. The last root beer one I had was very good, and we should always seek to improve.

Straight from the jar, it is an unremarkable brown beverage with a slight red hue. I expected it to be a darker brown being a beverage that is supposed to taste like chocolate, but things don't have to follow my described path through existence, do they? The aroma smells nothing like chocolate. Well, I say nothing, but the tail end gives me a hint of chocolate. The rest of it smells just like regular moonshine. It hits hard with that moonshine alcohol heaviness and acidity that strangely makes me not look forward to the first sip.

First sip shows my fears were unfounded. Yes, alcohol bites at first and then gives that reliable warmth the goes down the throat, but the slap of something like blue flame that hits with gasoline and turpentine and never lets go isn't here. Instead, it has the heaviness of alcohol in front and then it eases out into chocolate on the backend. This may be the right way to make moonshine that is flavored, as you can reliably tell that your drinking something that has more alcohol in it then it probably should while still trailing off into a pleasant taste.

Subsequent sips show that the chocolate flavor probably doesn't come in fast enough, and even bringing the beverage up to the mouth is enough to make me fear that I'm going to be surprised with that nail polish remover nonsense that many moonshines treat their unsuspecting consumers with.

Bottom Line: It's an idea, but it needs improvement.

2.25/5