Tastes

Fantastically interesting rye, but not what you would expect. Nose is very sweet and full of cream soda. Palate is sweet with strong notes of vanilla, orange, and fruit that develops into an oaky root beer float. Finishes sweet and smoothly, with no burn. Being unlike characteristic ryes, this whiskey is rather devoid of spiciness, but instead is as a whiskey that wants to a funky, aged Barbados rum. Excellent for sipping, interesting in select cocktails, but certainly not your go to mixer.

Good bourbon, but not an every day whiskey. Oily; strong nose of burnt oak, peppercorn, and sweet ethanol. Palate is Spicy and earthy with hits of vanilla, angostura and orange bitters; not at all sweet, in fact it one could say it is a dry whiskey. Smooth finish with no burn, unlike one would expect at 100 proof. This whiskey does not have a super interesting or long development, but rather welcomes you into its warm and full embrace all at once. However, it is lacking in complexity. Excellent sipping whiskey for those who enjoy bold spirits and would also serve well in many cocktails, especially an old fashioned. For the marginal increase in price, the 9 year is most certainly a step up form regular knob creek.

Nose is somewhat harsh yielding notes of acetone, caramel and vanilla. Warm mouthfeel, slightly oily; notes of vanilla, apple, pepper, and spices. Initially sweet but yields to a warm and spicy finish. Very well balanced and smooth. Excellent siping whiskey, would not recommend for many cocktails. I want to like to like it more than I do, but my first glass was intensely overpowered with acetone. The second glass was much better. I would assume these inconsistencies are due to the small batch size - do not let my criticism keep you from buying it, it is a fantastic whiskey, though my initial impressions were poor. Solid 3.8/5.