Tastes

RYE SHOWDOWN #2 Sazerac Rye Straight Rye Whiskey Rabbit Hold Starlino Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Vermouth Casks Continuing my recent foray back into ryes (see “High Test Rye Showdown,” 8/17/22): with four left in my collection, I decided to break them up in batches of two. These two comprise, in my estimation and memory, the better half. Sazerac Rye Sazerac Rye is a Buffalo Trace (Sazerac) product, and as such needs little introduction. Apparently it once carried a 6-year age statement, and is often referred to as “Baby Saz,” ostensibly the younger brother of the BTAC Sazerac Rye 18, and/or the BTAC Thomas H. Handy. The mashbill isn’t definitively known but is believed to be just 51% rye. I’ve had bottles on hand for years, and have regularly had it neat and in a Sazerac cocktail. Bottled at 90 proof. Deep, clear, honeyed amber color. On the nose, rye is noticeable, but is suppressed with bourbony notes due to the other 49% of the mashbill. There’s also caramel, dark chocolate, clove, anise, vanilla, and a cool lingering spearmint in the background. Fantastic sipper but lacking some rye typicity (due to its bare-minimum rye percentage). Smooth: downplayed ethanol, with subdued rye spiciness on the finish along with some vanilla. Baby Saz isn’t showy. Its biggest attributes are its lack of rye typicity, its smoothness, and its often-less-than-$30 price tag. While I at least try everything neat, with the smoothness and gentle minty coolness, I could see this over a little ice on a hot summer day, or in an interesting nontraditional Mint Julep, and certainly in a Sazerac cocktail. This is one to always have on hand. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. Rabbit Hold Starlino I received this as a gift at a Rabbit Hole tasting I attended earlier in the year with Rabbit Hole’s founder, Kaveh Zamanian. Starlino is part of RH’s cask strength distillery series, and is the first spirit distilled entirely at the RH distillery. It is finished in vermouth casks, and as such perhaps isn’t the best side-by-side pairer with the Baby Saz. Starlino was originally available only at the distillery, and does not appear on the website. Only 2112 375ml bottles were produced; mine is Batch 0352, bottle 0446. Bottled at 105.8 proof. Color is virtually identical to the Baby Saz, despite the vermouth cask finishing. Nose shows some immediate ethanol in comparison (not detrimentally so), as well as cedar, pine, brown sugar, clove, and a coolness not unlike one would imagine finely ground Life Savers wintergreen candies. There is caramel here too, and a soft roasted marshmallow. The rye aspect on the nose seems a bit subdued here as well: not by the low rye percentage, but perhaps the vermouth finishing. The palate is refreshing, almost fruity, with an apple cider element, some heat and rye spice, and a lingering vanilla finish. Very nice. Would love to have more, but it is apparently no longer available. I’m quite happy to have my single bottle. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. This rye pairing is less of a showdown than an excuse to drink two simultaneously. Both get high marks for slightly different reasons, and I would always want both in my collection. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in Glencairn glasses

HIGH-TEST RYE SHOWDOWN Willet 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey, Rare Release Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey Recent notes from @angstrom on Willet 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey and @jdriip on Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey prompted me to have a showdown between these two high-test ryes, as well as Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. It’s been some time since I’ve had each of them, but I know that I’ve loved all three. I created this showdown not only to see if my previous (unnoted) verdicts were correct, but also to see how well they would stand up beside each other. Expected rye spiciness on the palate presents as light white pepper before finishing with vanilla. Willet The Willet carries a four-year age statement and is bottled at 119 proof. Lightest of the three in color, although the differences are not stark; shows as deep tawny burnt orange. Unmistakable rye nose—by far the most “rye-like” of the three—with freshly crushed green pine needles, orange oil, milk chocolate, cinnamon apple pie, faint banana (not as much as I recalled), basil, and spearmint. Lightest and fruitiest of the three. The ethanol is there, but well integrated at 119 proof. Full mouthfeel, where the heat becomes apparent before finishing with a nice pull of vanilla, spicy pepper, ethanol, and the lingering cool spearmint. The heat is more noticeable on the finish—not completely unexpected given the proof. The back-end spiciness and heat is more than I recall, and puts the entire experience a little out of balance (this speaking from the perspective who loves high-octane whisk(e)y neat). Very good. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. Michter’s This bottle doesn’t carry an age statement. It is a limited release, and bottled at 112.6 proof. The deep mahogany color is the darkest of the three. Not as “obviously rye” on the nose as the Willet: more akin to a high-rye bourbon in comparison, with vanilla, pomander, caramel, some grilled peaches, pound cake, and sassafras. The rye is there, but more in the background. Smooth, mouthcoating palate adds cherry pipe tobacco. Long finish, with white pepper similar to, but not as overpowering as, the Willet, with lingering orange creamsicle. This is only my second bottle; I finished the first one a couple of years ago, and have been saving this one, but opened it for this tasting. And I’m glad I did. 4.75 “and a half” on the Distiller scale. The only thing holding it back from a perfect 5.0 for me is the thought that a longer quantified age statement may make it even more otherworldly. The pervasive depth, breadth, complexity, and smoothness is in the same league as the George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller that I had and reviewed just last night (8/16/2002). When this limited release is released, run, don’t walk, to get a bottle. Pikesville Pikesville is a Heaven Hill product, is “at least” six years old, and is bottled at 110 proof. Clear orange mahogany color is the second darkest of the three. Recognizable rye nose, between the Willet and Michter’s in terms of prevalence. Nose of milk chocolate, espresso, green pine needles, mincemeat pie, fruity cobbler crust, and some herbal sage and grassy notes. Most viscous mouthfeel of the three, with more sweet mince pie, with a not-dissimilar-to-the-others white pepper spiciness and vanilla on the finish. Very good; I’ll always have a bottle. But it lacks the complexity of the Michter’s. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. These are all very good high-test rye whiskies. I’d be happy to drink any of them (and I was this evening). The Michter’s is the clear winner for me, followed by the Pikesville and the Willet. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in Glencairn glasses.

HIGH-TEST RYE SHOWDOWN Willet 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey, Rare Release Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey Recent notes from @angstrom on Willet 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey and @jdriip on Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey prompted me to have a showdown between these two high-test ryes, as well as Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. It’s been some time since I’ve had each of them, but I know that I’ve loved all three. I created this showdown not only to see if my previous (unnoted) verdicts were correct, but also to see how well they would stand up beside each other. Expected rye spiciness on the palate presents as light white pepper before finishing with vanilla. Willet The Willet carries a four-year age statement and is bottled at 119 proof. Lightest of the three in color, although the differences are not stark; shows as deep tawny burnt orange. Unmistakable rye nose—by far the most “rye-like” of the three—with freshly crushed green pine needles, orange oil, milk chocolate, cinnamon apple pie, faint banana (not as much as I recalled), basil, and spearmint. Lightest and fruitiest of the three. The ethanol is there, but well integrated at 119 proof. Full mouthfeel, where the heat becomes apparent before finishing with a nice pull of vanilla, spicy pepper, ethanol, and the lingering cool spearmint. The heat is more noticeable on the finish—not completely unexpected given the proof. The back-end spiciness and heat is more than I recall, and puts the entire experience a little out of balance (this speaking from the perspective who loves high-octane whisk(e)y neat). Very good. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. Michter’s This bottle doesn’t carry an age statement. It is a limited release, and bottled at 112.6 proof. The deep mahogany color is the darkest of the three. Not as “obviously rye” on the nose as the Willet: more akin to a high-rye bourbon in comparison, with vanilla, pomander, caramel, some grilled peaches, pound cake, and sassafras. The rye is there, but more in the background. Smooth, mouthcoating palate adds cherry pipe tobacco. Long finish, with white pepper similar to, but not as overpowering as, the Willet, with lingering orange creamsicle. This is only my second bottle; I finished the first one a couple of years ago, and have been saving this one, but opened it for this tasting. And I’m glad I did. 4.75 “and a half” on the Distiller scale. The only thing holding it back from a perfect 5.0 for me is the thought that a longer quantified age statement may make it even more otherworldly. The pervasive depth, breadth, complexity, and smoothness is in the same league as the George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller that I had and reviewed just last night (8/16/2002). When this limited release is released, run, don’t walk, to get a bottle. Pikesville Pikesville is a Heaven Hill product, is “at least” six years old, and is bottled at 110 proof. Clear orange mahogany color is the second darkest of the three. Recognizable rye nose, between the Willet and Michter’s in terms of prevalence. Nose of milk chocolate, espresso, green pine needles, mincemeat pie, fruity cobbler crust, and some herbal sage and grassy notes. Most viscous mouthfeel of the three, with more sweet mince pie, with a not-dissimilar-to-the-others white pepper spiciness and vanilla on the finish. Very good; I’ll always have a bottle. But it lacks the complexity of the Michter’s. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. These are all very good high-test rye whiskies. I’d be happy to drink any of them (and I was this evening). The Michter’s is the clear winner for me, followed by the Pikesville and the Willet. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in Glencairn glasses.

HIGH-TEST RYE SHOWDOWN Willet 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey, Rare Release Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey Recent notes from @angstrom on Willet 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey and @jdriip on Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey prompted me to have a showdown between these two high-test ryes, as well as Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. It’s been some time since I’ve had each of them, but I know that I’ve loved all three. I created this showdown not only to see if my previous (unnoted) verdicts were correct, but also to see how well they would stand up beside each other. Expected rye spiciness on the palate presents as light white pepper before finishing with vanilla. Willet The Willet carries a four-year age statement and is bottled at 119 proof. Lightest of the three in color, although the differences are not stark; shows as deep tawny burnt orange. Unmistakable rye nose—by far the most “rye-like” of the three—with freshly crushed green pine needles, orange oil, milk chocolate, cinnamon apple pie, faint banana (not as much as I recalled), basil, and spearmint. Lightest and fruitiest of the three. The ethanol is there, but well integrated at 119 proof. Full mouthfeel, where the heat becomes apparent before finishing with a nice pull of vanilla, spicy pepper, ethanol, and the lingering cool spearmint. The heat is more noticeable on the finish—not completely unexpected given the proof. The back-end spiciness and heat is more than I recall, and puts the entire experience a little out of balance (this speaking from the perspective who loves high-octane whisk(e)y neat). Very good. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. Michter’s This bottle doesn’t carry an age statement. It is a limited release, and bottled at 112.6 proof. The deep mahogany color is the darkest of the three. Not as “obviously rye” on the nose as the Willet: more akin to a high-rye bourbon in comparison, with vanilla, pomander, caramel, some grilled peaches, pound cake, and sassafras. The rye is there, but more in the background. Smooth, mouthcoating palate adds cherry pipe tobacco. Long finish, with white pepper similar to, but not as overpowering as, the Willet, with lingering orange creamsicle. This is only my second bottle; I finished the first one a couple of years ago, and have been saving this one, but opened it for this tasting. And I’m glad I did. 4.75 “and a half” on the Distiller scale. The only thing holding it back from a perfect 5.0 for me is the thought that a longer quantified age statement may make it even more otherworldly. The pervasive depth, breadth, complexity, and smoothness is in the same league as the George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller that I had and reviewed just last night (8/16/2002). When this limited release is released, run, don’t walk, to get a bottle. Pikesville Pikesville is a Heaven Hill product, is “at least” six years old, and is bottled at 110 proof. Clear orange mahogany color is the second darkest of the three. Recognizable rye nose, between the Willet and Michter’s in terms of prevalence. Nose of milk chocolate, espresso, green pine needles, mincemeat pie, fruity cobbler crust, and some herbal sage and grassy notes. Most viscous mouthfeel of the three, with more sweet mince pie, with a not-dissimilar-to-the-others white pepper spiciness and vanilla on the finish. Very good; I’ll always have a bottle. But it lacks the complexity of the Michter’s. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. These are all very good high-test rye whiskies. I’d be happy to drink any of them (and I was this evening). The Michter’s is the clear winner for me, followed by the Pikesville and the Willet. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in Glencairn glasses.

Had my good friend @ataylor156 over for some good bourbon. From left to right I. The pic, ranked top to bottom (we both have exactly the same ranking): Rabbit Hole Cavehill (#6) George T. Stagg (2019) (#1) William Larue Weller (2019) (#2) Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (#4) Larceny Barrel Proof (#5) E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof (#3) Not a bad night. 😎

Had my good friend @ataylor156 over for some good bourbon. From left to right I. The pic, ranked top to bottom (we both have exactly the same ranking): Rabbit Hole Cavehill (#6) George T. Stagg (2019) (#1) William Larue Weller (2019) (#2) Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (#4) Larceny Barrel Proof (#5) E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof (#3) Not a bad night. 😎

Had my good friend @ataylor156 over for some good bourbon. From left to right I. The pic, ranked top to bottom (we both have exactly the same ranking): Rabbit Hole Cavehill (#6) George T. Stagg (2019) (#1) William Larue Weller (2019) (#2) Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (#4) Larceny Barrel Proof (#5) E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof (#3) Not a bad night. 😎

Had my good friend @ataylor156 over for some good bourbon. From left to right I. The pic, ranked top to bottom (we both have exactly the same ranking): Rabbit Hole Cavehill (#6) George T. Stagg (2019) (#1) William Larue Weller (2019) (#2) Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (#4) Larceny Barrel Proof (#5) E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof (#3) Not a bad night. 😎

Had my good friend @ataylor156 over for some good bourbon. From left to right I. The pic, ranked top to bottom (we both have exactly the same ranking): Rabbit Hole Cavehill (#6) George T. Stagg (2019) (#1) William Larue Weller (2019) (#2) Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (#4) Larceny Barrel Proof (#5) E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof (#3) Not a bad night. 😎

Had my good friend @ataylor156 over for some good bourbon. From left to right I. The pic, ranked top to bottom (we both have exactly the same ranking): Rabbit Hole Cavehill (#6) George T. Stagg (2019) (#1) William Larue Weller (2019) (#2) Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (#4) Larceny Barrel Proof (#5) E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof (#3) Not a bad night. 😎