Blind Assessment: Deeply sweet, resonantly savory, exceptionally vibrant. Apricot, honeysuckle, cannabis, wild honey, fresh-cut oak in aroma and cup. Sweet-umami in structure with crisp, bright acidity; lively malic acidity. The balanced finish leads with notes of honeysuckle and cannabis with undertones of wild honey.

Notes: This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 7 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2019. Mandheling is a term variously used to describe a growing region surrounding Lake Toba in North Sumatra Province and a traditional type of wet-hulled coffee associated with that region. JBC Coffee Roasters’ vision is simple: “let the coffee lead the way” through sourcing and roasting the best and most unique coffees available and rewarding the farmers who grow those coffees with substantial premiums. Visit www.jbccoffeeroasters.com or call 608-256-5282 for more information.

The Bottom Line: An alluring Sumatra cup, both classic and innovative: sweetly earth-framed (classic) but profoundly high-toned (innovative) with nuanced complexity.