Can you out-Fireball Fireball by adding apples to the mix?

Hood River’s Sinfire hit the scene as a Fireball competitor three years ago, and while it’s a fine product, the kids in the bars are still sucking down the original Fireball like the world was going to end. Response: Sinfire has launched a new version of its product, adding apples to the mix. Does apple-cinnamon flavored whisky stand a chance at becoming the next big standard in shooters? Let’s find out.

For starters, the nose is wholly dominant with apples, all buttery and fruity, with cinnamon an afterthought here at best. On the palate, there’s no cinnamon burn whatsoever at first, just a big rush of candied apple quickly followed by a metric ton of sugar. There’s spice on the finish, but the sweetness takes it well into red hot candies territory and away from any semblance of ground cinnamon as we know it. There’s certainly nothing in the way of “whisky” in the experience. Instead, as the finish unfolds, something akin to pure brown sugar sticks to the tongue and the roof of the mouth, lingering disturbingly for minutes.

Stick with the original.

70 proof.

C- / $18 / hrdspirits.com

Sinfire Apple Cinnamon Whisky

$18

4

Rating

4.0/10

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