Tastes

Bourbon Lens pick, barrel # 17-0082. Not much on the nose, some hints of oak and caramel. Really love the flavor profile on this one. Sweet caramel sauce and oak, very bourbon-y but then followed by nice rye spice dancing across my tongue. Warmth and oak notes remain on the tongue. Really enjoyed this one and will definitely look to get another Starlight Rye in the future.

Bourbon Lens Pick, barrel #1733. Beautiful dark color with some heat on the nose. Notes of sweet dark fruit, molasses, and some hints of tobacco. The proof makes itself known throughout but doesn't detract from the overall profile. The thick sweet fruit notes linger on the palate well after the sip. For the price I got it for, this is a great deal. Given the normal price, it wouldn't be a rebuy.

Batch 22A06 Pleasant, light, and sweet. Floral honey followed by the candy taste of red hots without the hot spiciness. A very nice rye, but there isn't anything to set it apart from other ryes within it's price point.

A little heat on the nose with some subtle dark sugar notes. Weak but typical Forester notes of bananas foster, pleasant hints of cocoa, and little bit of rye/alcohol heat on the lips and tongue.The extra malted barley in this rye gives a nice added depth to this rye. I prefer my ryes spicier; however I really love this whiskey for the price. Definitely will be a regular for my daily sipper rotation.

Sweet vanilla and sugar with just a touch of heat on the nose. On first sip the heat dances across my palate in a good way. Notes of cherry, creme brulee, bananas foster, vanilla, a touch of chocolate, and oak. Reminds me of Old Forester Signature cranked up. Every Old Forester product I've had seems to mature as I work through the bottle. Early on they seem just too sweet. About half way through the bottle hits a sweet spot on my palate where the more complex notes start to come out.

2022 r/bourbon pick. 5yr, 118 proof. Sweet honey and orange and nose with just a touch of heat. Taste of pepper, cherry, oak, and cola. The rye heat dances a little and lingers on my tongue. This bottle was very enjoyable and consistent throughout.

Flavorful considering for a sub 90 proof whiskey with notes of oak, vanilla, and a little marshmallow. However still a bit warm/spicy given it's proof. Feels a bit thin and watery on the palate. I can't ignore the price here. It feels like you are paying for the single barrel vintage. For the proof there are other whiskeys I'd prefer that are cheaper. And for the price, there are other more flavorful higher proof whiskeys I'd also prefer.

VABC Select 2020. While these are "barely legal" ryes, this one has always brought the rye spice. I loved how this bottle would dance across my tongue with rye and pepper spice. Later pours of this the spice is still very present but toned down from before. The Beam peanut starts coming forward now which I don't remember from earlier in the bottle.

Sweet with spicy rye notes but a thin on the mouth feel. Cinnamon, caramel, and honey throughout. Later sips I start getting aromas and flavors that remind me of applesauce. A nice rye, but compared to other rye options the price is the main sticking point for me on this one.

This one confuses me. Some days all I taste is a sweet vanilla and buttercream frosting. Other days I taste a rich cherry and oak bourbon with hints of vanilla. The latter is much more than enjoyable than the former.