Tastes

I have enjoyed this Rye much in the past, as have many friends. I knocked it down in my ranking after learning that it underwent fake, simulated, accelerated "TerrePURE" aging, and is just 2 months old otherwise. However, it's very different from any other rye, and good if you are in the mood for an extremely sweet, mellow rye (especially if pairing with a somewhat sweet meal). I usually prefer over even George Dickel Rye when looking for that, though Willett 3yr Rye and High West Double Rye are better ryes in general which also pair well with a sweet meal, and Knob Creek Rye and Colonel EH Taylor Rye (when you can find it) are much better ryes in general (if not sweet). My 2nd favorite of 50 whiskeys - George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel (9yr, 103 proof) is the best sweet Bourbon / Tenseness whiskey which pairs well with absolutely everything, and is a much better bet if that is what you are looking for, though not a rye. It's certainly one of the best deals in ryes, and better than typical MGP/LDI/Indiana sourced ryes from Bulleit, Russell's Reserve, and even George Dickel.

I like this Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 100 proof bourbon more than Elijah Craig 12yr due to its brighter, stronger flavor, despite it sharing the same Heaven Hill's mashbill. However, I still prefer Elijah Craig 12yr/NAS Barrel Proof, though this has a much stronger flavor even than that uncut barrel proof. It's much more similar in its strong, bright taste profile to Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr (also 100 proof bottled-in-bond), which I prefer over any other of those Heaven Hills bourbons.

Doesn't even come close to other Port finished bourbons like Angel's Envy. I wanted to love this, due to Angel's Envy being a top 3 favorite of 50 bourbons, whiskeys and ryes, however, I can't stand it in the same way I can't stand 1792 Small Batch. That is due to its Scotch-like finish of leather, tobacco, and peat - dry and tannic. I usually drink neat, but ice or water doesn't help either. Go for Angel's Envy or Midwinter NIght's Dram instead if you want a Port finish, unless you really like 1792 bourbon in general.Extremely overpriced at $100 in Seattle - in the rare cases when you can even find it.

I can't stand the Scotch-like leather, tobacco, and peat flavor, especially in the dry, tannic finish.

Sweet, rich and definitely honey, along with other rich flavors - molasses, creamed corn, creme brulee, as well as cinnamon. The finish is cinnamon, which I can't stand (similar to Temperance). Young, lacking some complexity. Lacks typical Caramel, Vanilla of traditional bourbon - maybe its the Northwest influence? Local, from here in the Seattle area, hence why I ended up trying it. That said, it's different, and because of that its grown on me a bit over time when looking for something different.

Sickly sweet cinnamon on palate and finish. The worst I've had out of 60 bourbons and ryes, and incredibly overpriced to boot! Woodinville (from Washington) is a much better non-traditional bourbon from the Northwest, though it's also too sweet for me (though slightly less so). Sourced from MGP (and not very transparent about it - hence the class action lawsuit), but seems likely it was aged in Portland, OR, considering it has a sweet profile somewhat similar to Woodinville's.

Much prefer Maker's Mark Cask Strength, which much more vanilla, as well as Old Weller Antique 10. I would suggest going for those or Maker's 46, with the seared French oak stave finishing, instead, for a wheater. That said, this, along with Jim Beam, is what got me into Bourbon in the first place, so it will always have some degree of fond remembrance for that.

Go for the higher (100) proof Knob Creek Rye instead - similar profile, and one of the best Rye's - and whiskeys in general. If you really prefer watered down (at 80 proof) though and can't get Knob Creek Rye, this is a pretty good, unique rye with nutty, bready Beam yeast. Once in a while I will sip this if in the mood for something lighter, and my friends enjoy as they prefer lighter usually.

Spicy. I prefer Double Rye instead of this Double Rye & Bourbon blend. That said, I'd like to try the older Bourye, as that may mellow it out and add some complexity. I suggest skipping this and going with Bourye, or even Double Rye, though I would suggest skipping straight to Rendezvous Rye since even that is pretty spicy and lacks complexity, especially since Rendezvous is supposed to be one of the all-time best ryes.

I gave Scotch a chance, but, as a diehard Bourbon and Rye drinker, I just can't find a way to enjoy notes of Tobacco, Smoke, Leather, and Peat over Vanilla, Rye, Fruit, Caramel, etc. Therefore, this doesn't even come close to the my least favorite Bourbon or Rye. I gave away a full bottle and just kept a mini. Maybe I will try something better, closer in profile to Bourbon someday, or High West Campfire, but until then, Scotch is out for me. If you are a Bourbon drinker looking to explore Scotch, do yourself a favor and start with something better (maybe Double Black at least as someone suggested here).