For those of you who visit Surdyk’s with some regularity, Tom Schaeppi needs no introduction. He’s the soft spoken, humble, yet deeply passionate man pouring his MN made single malt whiskies here at Surdyk’s every few weeks. It all started in 2018 with his now highly awarded 88 proof, which has become the first Platinum recipient in any category for spirits produced in MN from the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Tom visited me this summer with a sample from a single barrel that he thought was special, and wanted my opinion. My first impression: Wow. Tom was a little nervous because he didn’t want it to compete with his blended 80 proof that was going to be released further down the line. And because I liked it so much, I made it easy for him and said we’d take the whole barrel and sell it as a standalone. Complex aromas of blackberry, chocolate, baking spice, biscuit, honey, and black pepper fill the nose. The palate is medium to full bodied, balanced with flavors of caramel, vanilla, rich spice, dark fruits and a warm, lingering finish perfect for the rapidly approaching cooler weather. Cheers, Tom. See you soon!  - Zach Rouillard, Surdyk's Spirits Buyer