Sweet Whiskey V.2 Bath & Body Works 2020
1
Comparing different Sweet Whiskey versions, and why this one is superior
I love a good boozy note - especially bourbon and whiskey. But after Sweet Whiskey was first released in Fall 2020, I didn't enjoy it. The berries seemed synthetic and almost salty, accentuating the whiskey in a way that made it feel too sharp and prominent. To my nose, this toppled the blend out of balance - veering the smokey whiskey towards a bitter, synthetic tobacco pipe.
When it was re-released just a few months later in Winter 2020 (in the pink and orange "confetti" label as pictured here), I decided to try it again. I was blown away! The whiskey note had been scaled back, to create a more balanced blend with the vanilla and amber. It wasn't fighting for attention anymore - it sung with the other notes in harmony. The berries were thankfully nowhere to be found, and instead there was a slightly-powdery + fresh addition of apple blossom.
The apple blossom made everything more comforting and smooth. I picture pouring the vanilla-infused, ambery-whiskey into a glass and topping it with frothy apple blossom foam. Nothing but sweet, smokey goodness (someone told me they smelled cigarettes, so there's definitely still an undertone of tobacco - which I personally love).
So as of now, it seems this will continue to be a regular "fall" release - and that they'll unfortunately continue to keep the red berries note, instead of apple blossom like this release has. It's worth hunting down a Winter 2020 bottle on a resale platform, as this version is very different and by far my favorite!
A timeline of the 6 versions so far:
1) Fall 2020 (blue swirl label) - same notes as listed on Sweet Whiskey , with red berries/no apple blossom
2) Winter 2020 (pink & orange label, pictured here) - no red berries note, with apple blossom added instead
3) Fall 2021 (gold foil label) - red berries/no apple blossom
4) Fall 2022 (purple faceted bottle) - red berries/no apple blossom
5) Fall 2023 (maroon floral) - red berries/no apple blossom
6) Fall 2024 (purple "cut glass" plastic bottle) - red berries/no apple blossom
When it was re-released just a few months later in Winter 2020 (in the pink and orange "confetti" label as pictured here), I decided to try it again. I was blown away! The whiskey note had been scaled back, to create a more balanced blend with the vanilla and amber. It wasn't fighting for attention anymore - it sung with the other notes in harmony. The berries were thankfully nowhere to be found, and instead there was a slightly-powdery + fresh addition of apple blossom.
The apple blossom made everything more comforting and smooth. I picture pouring the vanilla-infused, ambery-whiskey into a glass and topping it with frothy apple blossom foam. Nothing but sweet, smokey goodness (someone told me they smelled cigarettes, so there's definitely still an undertone of tobacco - which I personally love).
So as of now, it seems this will continue to be a regular "fall" release - and that they'll unfortunately continue to keep the red berries note, instead of apple blossom like this release has. It's worth hunting down a Winter 2020 bottle on a resale platform, as this version is very different and by far my favorite!
A timeline of the 6 versions so far:
1) Fall 2020 (blue swirl label) - same notes as listed on Sweet Whiskey , with red berries/no apple blossom
2) Winter 2020 (pink & orange label, pictured here) - no red berries note, with apple blossom added instead
3) Fall 2021 (gold foil label) - red berries/no apple blossom
4) Fall 2022 (purple faceted bottle) - red berries/no apple blossom
5) Fall 2023 (maroon floral) - red berries/no apple blossom
6) Fall 2024 (purple "cut glass" plastic bottle) - red berries/no apple blossom