88 / 100
New American Oak is the stated cask, and the rye’s notes pair toasted oak and caramel with a more pointed run of pepper, mint and baking spice. That contrast is what makes the character interesting to me: sweetness is present, but it doesn’t simply soften the spice. The notes range widely, from fruit and molasses to pine and smoke, so I’d be cautious about reducing the character to a single cask effect. At 66.6% ABV, this is a high-strength release, though that fact alone doesn’t tell us how it drinks. Overall, it reads as a bold, busy rye with a useful balance of sweet and savoury cues.
Reviewed by sunbeam_pebble
- Nose
- Peppery rye spice, Sweet molasses, Dark fruit, Aged oak, Fresh mint
- Palate
- Butterscotch sweetness, Toasted oak, Cinnamon and baking spices, Ripe cherry, Dry, oaky notes
- Finish
- Tapering spice, Molasses and raisin, Light oak, Trace of smoke, Long finish