Tastes

My first taste of Yellowstone was years ago with friends. A good bottle with good company is the best combination. Going back to it I still appreciate the flavor profile. Scents of rich caramel, orange zest and baked brioche. The taste gives off a candied baked food vibe. Taste of red fruit and spicy Rye with a warm lengthy finish. This is a bottle to enjoy with company or over the holidays with family.

This whiskey reminds of a glencairn glass of candy for adults. Sweet smells of butterscotch, Werthers hard candy but then it shifts. The scents began to feel like a Rum. Warm tropical notes, mixed in with lemon zest, banana, peppery spice. The taste is gentle and subtle with heat from the cinnamon that pleasantly lingers. A good solid whiskey that would be beginner friendly.

I don't know if the batch I had was different, but my first smell was tropical. A few scents of vanilla, banana, dominant orange and oak. The taste delivered granulated brown sugar, black peppercorn, star anise and a quick finish. It feels like a quick drink during a layover. Ok for me, but won't return.

I'm a fan of peat, so anything Islay I'll try happily. Upon opening, the peat dominates the olfactory. The sweetness slowly follows with a sweet cake, a weird metallic smell like rain falling on metal and a dash of lemon scented household cleaner. Sounds weird but stay with me. The taste is surprisingly sweet, but then you get a briny taste of the ocean. A touch of black licorice, light smoke and blazing finish. If this was a 12 year I would be happy to buy. Weirdly enough they only sell an 8 year or 17 year. Don't understand the gap.

This leaves me with more questions. With each sip I wondered what is this? It felt like I was drinking Brandy (no slight to Brandy). First sniff, savory notes caramel, rich toffee, butterscotch, perfume of pear. In tasting the perfume is first, then the spicy mouthful if hearty clove, oily medical aftertaste. Still can pinpoint this whiskey.

An overall solid but not much more. The scents of orange marmalade, butterscotch, trail mix fruit and cinnamon. It's a typical whiskey profile but not lasting.

A bit underwhelmed with this one. Typical whiskey notes of butter, sweet toffee and dried herbs. In the taste, the tangy sherry, earthy, nutty spice is short lived. The taste falls flat quick. Solid but wouldn't go back for more.

A wine cask that reminds me of Malbec albeit the strong apple rind scent. After initial pour, the scent is dry and bitter with a weird nail polish scent. Then the wine kicks in with vanilla, robust plum, black cherry, cranberry. The taste comes with layers. The initial touch of dark fruit, balanced with heated spice yet tolerable. The wine cask levels out giving a medium finish.

Personally, Rye whiskey is like Pinoit Noir. It's filled with uniqueness and complexity that brings you back for more. Rossville delivers a Rye that's fruit forward and spicy. I got smells of cherries, cranberries mixed with caramel. The oak and baking spices deliver smells of vanilla, earthy nutmeg and spicy cinnamon. The taste matches the spicy cinnamon smell. Followed by oily coating smoke that reminds you of a pot still whiskey. Very good bottle for drinkers that prefer fruit forward Rye.

The color comes with a corn goldish tint. At the opening the smell gives off a fresh bag of corn flakes. The cereal vibe is strong with corn and maple. The scent is multilayered with sweet perfume, fragrant dried herbs, oak and a finish of orange zest. The taste profile is cereal forward, tying in with mint and smoke finish. What elevates the bottle is the lengthy finish.