Blind Assessment: Deeply sweet with a resonantly savory edge; intense and original. Peach, lavender, coconut and oak are complicated by a pleasing alcohol suggestion that no doubt reflects the bourbon-barrel conditioning, but in the sensory context of the coffee reads more brandy- or wine-like. Round, vibrant acidity; satiny mouthfeel. The peach note in particular carries into a flavor-saturated finish.

Notes: This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 25 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2017. Before roasting, this distinguished Kenya coffee was held for 65 days in barrels previously used to age bourbon whiskey. This coffee tied for the highest rating in a cupping of aged, casked and specially cured coffees for Coffee Review‘s May 2017 tasting report. Modern Times is a well-loved, exuberantly inventive Point Loma, San Diego brewery that has long specialized in coffee-beer crossovers and overlaps. Visit www.moderntimescoffee.com for more information.

The Bottom Line: A resonant, complexly layered, quite original cup.