Tastes

Barrel #59, F5/R1 (Total Wine) N: vanilla cookie, rye spice, orange zest, maple syrup (light) P: oak, vanilla crème, rye spice F: oak, rye spice, slight char Total Wine did a nice pick on this one. Light-Medium viscosity, pleasant oak throughout with a slight char, creamy vanilla undertones. Long warm finish. My favorite rye to date.

Barrel# 21-1069 (Total Wine) WH: K, Floor 3 N: cherry, hazelnut, cocoa (hint), oak P: vanilla pudding, oak, cinnamon spice on back end F: oak, spice, nutty Nice viscosity, oily (pudding), pleasant oak and sweetness with cinnamon spice that kicks in through the finish. Glad I purchased this!

N: honey, baking spice, cherry P: baking spice, light oak, honey, vanilla, caramel, hints of cherry or banana F: oak, baking spice, cherry vanilla cream Very pleasant neat, baking spice all the way through with underlying light oak with sweetness of honey/vanilla/caramel (but not syrupy). Some cherry and banana notes in there as well. Light viscosity but has a creaminess and good finish. Probably will drink this neat rather than on the rocks. Lucky to find this at a reasonable price.

N: maple syrup, caramel, slight banana, pepper P: oak forward, lots of pepper, underlying caramel F: long, oak and red hots This is the 2021 selection from Total Wine. Viscosity light-medium. Wheated sweetness without being syrupy, caramel underneath the blast of oak and pepper. After the red hots wear off the finish is a very pleasurable light sweetness and oak.

N: sweet biscuits, buttery, hay, dried fruit P: butterscotch, baking spices, vanilla icing, coppery F: lots of oak, butterscotch Wow! Very complex and interesting from nose to finish. Bright and balanced. Long lasting, warm Irish hug finish. Will be keeping this one stocked at all times.

N: Vanilla, Light Honey, Melon, Grass, Acetone P: Caramel, Vanilla, Sweet Corn, Pepper F: Oak, Pepper Easy drinking, light viscosity but slick (not too thin), refreshing, little pepper at the end, short finish. Enjoyable, not overly complex.

N: floral notes, mild coffee/chocolate P: honey with a bit of spice, hint of chocolate, hoppy/malty F: short spice Easy to drink with a little spice. A bit thin and a short finish.

N: sweet, vanilla, oak P: spice, toffee, vanilla, leather F: cinnamon hot tamales Delicious and interesting. Love the “red hot” spices. Medium-High viscosity. Great for sipping.

N: light caramel, cherry(?) oak, spice P: crème brûlée, baking spices F: young oak, spices, hint of vanilla Favorite rye so far (in my very limited experience, haha), light-medium viscosity, spices are not completely overpowering and I really enjoy the underlying crème brûlée (to my taste), big time oak finish but not in a bad way.

N: pine needles, vinyl, light leather, artificial banana P: young oak, baking spices, mildly sweet bread, toast F: pepper, spices, menthol Plenty of rye spice, thin-light viscosity, not my favorite rye so far (may improve over time) but happy to have on the shelf and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Would definitely be good in a mixed drink.