Tastes

Had again after they won the 2021 ASCOT awards and they must have done something different- this tastes fantastic! Toffee, vanilla, and caramel - very smooth with a slight spice at the end

Flaviar sample box “Ryenaissance” July, 2022 Sample C Pour/Color: The darkest of the three, but appears relatively light in density Nose: Fantastic, deep, and quite complex. Floral caramel notes First taste: A pop of rye spice, but vanillas, molasses, caramels, and chocolate of a bourbon are present and noticeably soft Lingering: Dark chocolate and sweet notes linger Score: 3.5 (best of the three, would on the fence about buying)

Flaviar sample box “Ryenaissance” July, 2022 Sample B Pour/color: a dense liquid that is medium gold in color Nose: Smells like fried pickles!! Fantastic, deep, and quite complex. Dark fruits, some cinnamon, and some floral notes, but also grass, hay, and rye pepper First taste: a buttery, butterscotchy rye with dry oak and tannins Lingering: not much lingering flavor, tannins dominate Finish: smooth, but dull and not terribly complex Score: 3 (second best of the three)

Flaviar sample box “Ryenaissance” July, 2022 Sample A Pour: Smooth and appears watery Color: Lightest of the bunch, a golder corn Nose: hay, grass, mint, and rye spice with some fruit First taste: BARLEY, earthy, some very sweet popcorn Lingering: fruits emerge, but alcohol is pungent Finish: prolonged ethanol flavor, no real rye spice punch Score: 2.5 Worst of the box

Last pour from this bottle. Has been very nice, but has lost a lot of pepper flavor as it has sat in the bottle.

Had at dinner at Ratskeller in Munich on our honeymoon! Very peaty, but good bold flavor. Not a Scotch fan, but I could at least appreciate this

Had on bourbon trail (see “yellow label”) and then again here at the hotel in Venice while McK is in the room sick. Actually pretty pleasant after a week of Campari and Aperol. The bottle is different than the yellow label at home - with an “IMPORTED” label across the top.

Barrel no. 11640 // Barreled on 2/2/12 Bought off of Flaviar. Nose is dominated by stone fruits. Flavor is caramel with peppery rye spice and a cereal barley finish that lingers.

Found behind all the Series #6 bottles at the Blarney Stone near the South Bend airport. Smell is a lot of that sharp young rye but with cool caramel undertones - maybe a hint of fruits/apple tart. Sip has a very pleasant mouthfeel - light and buttery but a very complex mixture of flavors: sweet vanilla butter and honey syrup. A hint of molasses and mint. Very good - might be the best of the fusion series I have tried so far (2, 5, 6, 7)

Bought at CityWide on Grape Rd. Pour is very silky smooth and the liquid is light and watery, not oily. Color is a beautifully dark amber. The nose is fantastic - full of caramel and subtle rye spice. Taste is buttery and smoky wood with a cool caramel finish. Cinnamon and toasted fruits also present. Very enjoyable!