RYE & BOURBON

It's time again for the whiskey group's annual excursion into American whiskies...

* FLIGHT ONE *

Expression 1
 Whistlepig 12 Year Rye - Amburana Finish

Wade's Wines Store Pick

Background: The Old World series consists of Rye sourced from MGP in Indiana which is then usually finished in some sort of ex-wine cask(s), like Port, Madeira, and/or Sauternes.  More experimental finishes, like this one, yield small out-turns and usually only get offered as select store exclusives.  Amburana is a type of wood used for aging cachaca in Brazil.

Stats:  Alcohol By Volume (ABV) = 43%.

Tasting Notes: Immediately hit with sandalwood notes and then a spectacular gingerbread finish.  An ideal rye for the holidays. No wonder Whistlepig used this type of finish on their 2020 Boss Hog release!

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Pour?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 2
 New Riff Straight Rye

Background: New Riff, one of the newest distilleries in Kentucky, has only been around since 2014.  But they are getting a lot of buzz quickly for their affordable bourbons and ryes, especially single barrels.

Stats: ABV = 50%.  NAS. 

Tasting Notes: Jumping on the bandwagon with the small batch rye.  The nose is fairly sweet and not as much of a spice punch as anticipated for this young rye - and that's a good thing for my palate.  Nice daily drinker.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 3
 Michters Barrel Proof Toasted Rye

Barrel No. 17C540

Background: Michter's sources some of the best whiskies around.  Soon, they'll even be distilling their own spirit.  In 2014, their first Toasted Barrel Finish bourbon launched to much success, so a rye edition was inevitable.  A big difference between the two, though, is that the rye is at barrel proof.

Stats: ABV = 55.1%. Bottled 2017.

Tasting Notes: You instantly get that toasted marshmallow smores nose.  Tastes like burnt Bananas Foster.  With water, an added note of dark chocolate presents itself.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 4
 Willett Family Estate 6 Year Rye 

aka "Jungleland"

Background: Founded just after prohibition ended, Willett was primarily a bottler for the past few decades.  In 2012, they started distilling again, proving they can create some amazing ryes and bourbons just as well as they were sourcing whiskies in the past.

Stats: ABV = 58.1%. Barrel No. 2518.  

Tasting Notes: Cotton candy nose.  Dense dark chocolate on the taste and a variety of baking spices on the finish.  This is the real deal.  Big and bold.  A bit of water helps open everything up, but not necessary even at this high of proof.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

* FLIGHT TWO *

Expression 1
  Heaven Hill 7 Year Bourbon Bottled in Bond

Background: A fairly recent addition to the Heaven Hill core line up, and successor to the green label 6 Year Old that was only available in Kentucky for the longest time.  Mash bill breakdown is 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley.

Stats: ABV = 50%. 

Tasting Notes: Nutty and woody on the taste.  I would have assumed this one had a higher rye content.  Not nearly as sweet as its bourbon brother, Elijah Craig.  Black Cherry rounds out the finish.  Not what I was expecting, but very much a new daily drinker for the rotation.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 2
   George T Stagg 15 Year Bourbon (2019)

Background: This year's infamous GTS was released at its lowest alcohol by volume (ABV) since its inception in the early 2000s.  So was Buffalo Trace trying to get a greater yield of bottles, or was it to cut the proof for optimal taste?

Stats: ABV = 58.45%. Bottled 2019. 

Tasting Notes: Past Stagg's have been uncannily exceptional right out of the bottle even at 120-140+ proof. But this release is probably the best balance of flavor and smoothness that would appeal to hardcore bourboners and newcomers alike.  Caramel butterscotch early, then finishing with classic coconut.  No water required.  I have to admit, they were going for optimal taste.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 3
Old Carter Single Barrel 12 Year Bourbon

Bottle No. 30 of 169

Background: The owners of Kentucky Owl Whiskey sold that brand to a big corporation.  They then used the proceeds to repeat the same formula by starting a new company, Old Carter, and continuing to  source top bourbons and ryes and releasing high-end small batches and single barrels.

Stats: ABV = 60.0%.  Barrel #39.

Tasting Notes:  Nice even butterscotch nose.  The taste on this one is sweet, lots of caramel and vanilla.  Dry finish.  Cost is anywhere from $200-$300 and for that price, I'd probably rather have 3-4 bottles of Elijah Craig 12 Year Barrel Proof.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 4
 Willett Family Estate 6 Year Bourbon

aka "Pac Edge
Family Selection"

Background: Family owned and operated since its inception, Willett, or Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD), also releases a wide variety of bourbons under different brand names like Johnny Drum, Noah's Mill, and Old Bardstown, the last one named after the city in which they operate.

Stats: ABV = 65.9%.  Barrel No. 4817.

Tasting Notes: At 131.8 proof, this one definitely benefitted from the taste buds being primed by the previous selections.  The baking spices on the nose continue to the taste and finishes with DENSE dark chocolate.  A little water is a must to open this one up if it's your first pour of the party.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

[Tasting conducted with the Sneaky Trips Tasting Group which consists of Whisk(e)y Enthusiasts ranging from Beginner to Advanced.  Tastings are held monthly and are usually 8 Expressions based on a particular theme.]