Tastes

N: sweet vanilla, marshmallow cereal, sharp hints of rye spice and almonds P:soft grain, followed by a nutty sweetness, like candy covered almonds F: soft and creamy with subtle warmth. This is a solid pour. Not too complex but very tasty.

Batch 1 limited run sour mash whisky sitting at a nice 107 proof. N: Maple syrup immediately with walnut and a floral note (geranium?). Hints of mint and lemon zest show up afterwards. Once it's had room to breathe, it starts to smell like a pecan pie with caramel drizzle and a dusting of cinnamon...and occasional hints of rye and corn. P: Initial hit of rye grain fades quickly into a nutty walnut mid-palate with some heat. This eventually turns into a sweet, then bitter, campfire wood (not smokey, just earthy) F: Earthy, alternating sweet and bitter, raw cocoa. Honestly this is one of the best pours I've had in a while. The profile here isn't usually my thing, but it's very well executed and at this high proof it plays perfectly. Definitely proofed to taste. More cinnamon on second nosing

N- medicinal and malty, opening up into a citrus and eucalyptus note that fades into honeysuckle and orange blossom with hints of iodine campfire. P- medicinal cough syrup with light smoke, citrus and fruit mid palate F- soft short malty finish with very subtle peppery. Overall an acceptable pour but nothing special. This is an average daily drinker if peaty Irish is your thing.

This review is for the Jan. 2019 Rural Inn barrel pick of Eagle Rare. N: first hit is a vanilla pecan pie, with brown sugar, cinnamon, and subtle nutmeg, honey, and vanilla. Letting it linger lets the fruit notes of cherry and green apple show. P: super soft mouthfeel with delicate rose water and toasted oak flavors, honey and herbal mid palate with hints of almond and coffee F: subtle mint and herbs alternate with some heat. The alternating goes on and on. A delicious bourbon at a great price. If you get a chance to taste a barrel pick, do it!

Tasting the store pick "Blackout" from the Rural Inn in Indianapolis. N: sweet, caramel and maple syrup, hints of raspberry and rye...almost like a spicy Capri-sun???, herbal notes of honeysuckle and mint. A few drops of water brings out malt and cocoa P: very woody - fresh oak, and walnuts, dark chocolate and cinnamon mid palate with hints of mint throughout. F: hotter than expected, but bitter chocolate and wood notes linger with pepper flavors that last a loooooooong time. This one lingers! Very interesting, complex flavors. Not for casual drinking unless diluted slightly or in a cocktail. But a wonderful flavor profile and a finish lasting for ever.

N: caramel, cream pie, banana bread P: banana cream and mint with hints of pine, mid palate distinct Walnut and oak F: more banana and hints of cinnamon, vanilla, long Unrefined, sharp flavors don't deter your next sip. This sub-$20 whisky belongs on your shelf, without question. A decent pour at any price, this is an extraordinary value for what I paid.

Color and viscosity of slightly reddish-amber olive oil N: Cherry and Apricot, honey and malty with hints of hazelnut, Honeynut Cheerios P: light and sweet early but turns surprisingly earthy and oaky midpalate. F: Long and Rye-forward, switching between sweet grains and spice. Bought this basically blind and am glad I did. I don't recommend adding water, because the malt becomes overpowering. A good pour neat!

N: Corn, Cinnamon, pepper, salted caramel and honey, hints of apples in glencarin, nutty P: honey up front, toasted oak and almonds, hints of nuts and vanilla extract middle with an almost sour note F: chocolate, oak, and pepper overall a good classic pour worth the high retail price, when you include presentation

N: slight brine at first gives way to a gentle peat and wood smoke. Seaweed, grass, apricot, and honey all makes appearances. Very complex P: sweet front, almost a honey, followed by malt grain notes. Mid palate leather and ceder. F: long and evolving between pepper, sweetness, and woody. More heat than expected. This is a wonderfully complex dram, although I wouldn't go back to it as a daily drinker. Appreciate it for what it is: complex and thought provoking.

N: vanilla and honey P: very light and hints of honey and cherry, slightly oak forward F: grain forward and medium length. an ok pour but I wouldn't seek it out.