Tastes

Opened for Grady’s passing: Nose is deep, complex. Layers of maple nut goodies, vanilla, orange citrus, black pepper, and oak. A little hot for 107, but tones down and opens up with a splash of water. Viscous and round with a nice dose of barrel spice on the back end. Vanilla/caramel dominates, on the attack, sweetness fades to soft barrel spices, and citrus (grapefruit), and herbs. Long lingering warm finish. Delicious, easy drinking dram.

Batch 7A... Overall spicy/harsh nose of rye bread, black pepper, lemon/lime zest, ethanol balanced slightly with a healthy dose of maple. Fortunately, the sip improves a little on the nose with a healthy dose of sweet cherry fruit on entry that builds into an intense rye kick, with a bit of harsh heat before fading. The finish is warm and lingers, but unfortunately the notes are bitter/astringent, green pepper, new oak. Overall, from the midpalate to the finish, I would rate this an unpleasant pour. This will rank with Peerless Rye as one of my most overprice bottles.

So the notes in here about it drinking a bit hot/harsh are spot on. I tend to like higher proof whiskeys as well, but this pour is a bit hot and unbalanced. Adding water mellows the heat, but overall it dilutes the character as well. Nose of maple syrup (classic AE), pear, caramel, white pepper, and a hint of rye bread. First sip reveals a full sweet smooth entry of vanilla/caramel that immediately gets demolished by heat, medicinal/astringency, green pepper, that then fades to a nice cashew and char finish, that is long and warm.

Not the best value in the whiskey world, but if you like punchy, hot ryes, this might fit your needs. Especially after a splash of water. The best part of this pour is the nose. I get sweet cashew and milk chocolate (almost reminds me of a Pay Day), surrounded by subtle rye notes. Medium weight and slick on entry, a sip delivers soft cashew notes that quickly erupt into rye spice and grainy heat that dominates. Eventually the heat and spice fade to a medium length, warm hug, with barrel char, cinnamon, and anise. Adding water brings down the "hot" nature of the pour, but also dilutes the concentration of the pleasant sweeter notes. Overall, not a bad pour, but at the price point and with the pedigree, I expected more.

Outstanding value, in a whiskey world where it can be very hard to find. Nose is very soft but generous with dark cherry dominating, hints of butterscotch, rye notes, and a whiff of ethanol. The mouthfeel follows through on the nose, very soft, with rounded full edges. On entry cherry and baked/browned soft apple fruit gives way ever so easily to very well balanced rye spice that blends nicely with notes of dark chocolate. The rye spice moves from back to front, tickling even the lips. The finish, although a bit abrupt/short, fades nicely into cocoa and barrel notes. While not an aggressive, punchy rye, overall a well balanced, soft, delicious pour that delivers just enough rye spice to keep most rye fans happy. Not a single note in this pour could be labeled as unpleasant.

I had heard a ton of hype on this one before I tasted it blind next to 2 other 100 proof ryes. As noted by my rating, it did not live up to the hype, and was buried by Rittenhouse and EHT in a blind tasting. Even at $21, it's a hard pass for me. This was my second time tasing it: The nose is really tight out of the bottle. Came back to it after 15 minutes and picked up ethanol and pepper at first. Second nosing of dill, feint maple, vanilla, and some floral notes. Slightly viscous and sweet on entry, with crisp apple fruit, a dry mid-palate of rye spice, grainy astringency and heat quickly take over, with a thin/weak back end of barrel char. Finish is warm, and a bit of sweetness returns, with barrel char notes, but ends abruptly. Overall, an unimpressive/indistinguishable pour.

So, apparently there are couple people on here trying to scare people off this one. Having tasted it myself, I can understand that. I'd want more for myself at this price point as well.... From start to finish this is an impressive, rich, balanced, and delicious pour. The nose is dominated by caramel delights, with red apple, wrapped in rye spice notes and a hint of herbal tea. A sip reveals a rich, intense, creamy mouthfeel before the rye spice takes over. Sweet caramel corn on entry quickly giving way and balancing an intense (but manageable) punchy rye/black pepper spice. The finish starts with a warm KY hug, giving way to barrel spice/char and honey. Lingers long and sweet, begging for another sip.

This is a 6 year old barrel pick from Shores Liquor in Daytona Beach, FL. Bottled in 2018 at 6 years and 1 month. 115 proof. Nose of vanilla, rye bread, dried apricot. Rich and raw mouthfeel. The 115 proof definitely shows on first taste. Sweet apricot that is quickly overwhelmed by an intense rye spice, that fades to a very long lasting warm sweet, blueberry/cranberry finish wrapped in barrel notes. After adding water, this tones down to a delicious, well rounded, man's rye pour. Very impressed. Well done Shores Liquors. Amazing value at $46 for a barrel proof 6 year-old rye.

Simply delicious. Nose of ripe peach/pear/apricot (stone fruits), vanilla, honey, almost creme brulee like (heavily sauterne influenced), rye spice. Has a silky, rich, soft, and velvety mouthfeel. Attack of sweet apricot that eases gently into a crescendo of rye spice, and sweet red licorice. The finish is warm and sweet with red licorice and ginger dominating with a hint of barrel notes. Nice rye punch to match the sweetness of the cask finishes. One of my favorite finished ryes.

Unique. Warmed up with Evan Williams BiB, and this takes a 90 degree turn from there. Nice nose of roasted sweet corn, and profound vanilla cake frosting. Mouthfeel is rich and evenly balanced. Hits with sweet corn and chocolate that gives way to a bit of grainy heat, fading quickly to a long warm finish of light ginger spice and smoke. Drinks a bit young, but overall an enjoyable and unique pour.