Tastes

This is a fascinating rye - very unlike others I’ve had, even the Ragtime Rye made by the same distillery (and presumably using the same barrels). The rye grain is an heirloom called Horton which produces a flavor that’s got much less stone fruit than Ragtime’s grain, more bready than dilly. Its scent is creamier than a wheated bourbon, and on the tongue it starts with lots of rye spice, then resolves into a flavor that’s almost like raw marshmallow and a peppermint leaf. The finish is REALLY long, over a minute of tingle and rye spice that waits until the last few seconds to really pop. It’s not a rye-bread taste, nor dill - closer to clove and butter. I definitely want to get another bottle of this, even at 125 a bottle. I’ll likely also get a Select Barrel Ragtime, for when I want a bit more fruit and a bit less cream.

Complex palate (hot, but more “cinnamon oil” and less “ethanol burn”) - starts with spice and clove, moves through orange zest and lands on a dark chocolate note not unlike WT Rare Breed. Very enjoyable, though at 123 proof a single dram is thankfully enough to satisfy.