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J.P. Wiser's Triple Barrel Rye
Distiller Score 90
This whisky is an all-you-can-eat rye bread buffet. The all-rye nose shifts to velvety wheat and vanilla icing on the palate with rye spices still in abundance. The oily and creamy texture of the whisky makes it tough to break long enough between sips to enjoy a bracing clean finish where the rye spices get a chance to pop one last time.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Style Rye
Distiller Score 90
This is a rye that tastes like what you think a rye whiskey would taste like: big rye spice and pepper on the nose, but also strawberries, chocolate covered cherries, and faint floral notes. Flavor is big and bold, with a burly helping of spice alongside a medicinal tang. Licorice, bitter mint, and caramel come along for the ride. It's heavy and substantial, the kind of whiskey that holds up to a cocktail while still being sippable neat.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon 100 Proof
Distiller Score 86
Noticeably spicy and dark for a wheated bourbon. Upfront, there are notes of pipe ash and cinnamon that are buoyed by spiced honey characters. Across the palate, sweeter bread crust and vanilla flavors are offered up within pleasantly smooth sip from front to back.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey (80 proof)
Distiller Score 86
Next time you take a shot of this rye, take a minute and actually smell the whiskey. You'll notice a pleasing aroma full of dark grain, char smoke, and cherry vanilla cola. The whiskey is quite hollow on your palate and not very full, but the finish is pleasing enough. You are left with the dark grain and char wood aromas.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Old Bardstown Black Label Bourbon (90 Proof)
Distiller Score 86
The nose on this bourbon is sticky and sweet, with overtones of molasses and vanilla that fade into fruity notes of cherry. The aroma ends with the rich scent of coffee and brown sugar. Its taste is slightly bitter — walnuts and cloves give way to softer flavors of malt and peach. The finish is long and spicy.
Reviewed by Derek Gamlin
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Alberta Springs 10 Year
Distiller Score 85
Richly sweet with fiery pepper over layers of fruit, grain and rye spices. Dusty rye with a slight sourness on the nose becomes richly sweet on the palate with vanilla and crème caramel. Green apples, red grapes, and dried fruits ride waves of hot pepper and luscious caramel. Finishes in dry grain, hints of fresh-cut lumber and mild citrus pith. Deceivingly simple to begin with, then unfolds in many layers.
Reviewed by Davin de Kergommeaux
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Ninety 5 Year Whisky
Distiller Score 87
What a clean nose where the younger alcohol notes have been put on a leash in favor of the oak spice’s gentler side. This allows the caramel, vanilla and saw dust characters to effortlessly blend into the mix. In the mouth, the spices are unleashed with a fresh juiciness where the corn whisky fires off focused baking spices such as cinnamon. This whisky hits all the right notes leading up to a finale of citrus fruits with all the previous characteristics coming out for a curtain call.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Stalk & Barrel Red Blend
Distiller Score 89
Still Waters had the same moment as the guy who discovered how good peanut butter and chocolate go together. For the distillery, it’s how good their rye and single malt go together in this blend. The nose is bright with sweet barley working together with blossoming floral rye. On the palate it’s all about those rye spices and flavor symmetry. This stylish blend wraps up with a little oak and a spray of citrus pith.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Old Overholt Bonded Straight Rye Whiskey
Distiller Score 86
Spicy rye opens on the nose with pumpernickel bread, rich vanilla with brown sugar, and hints of sour cherries. The palate offers baking spices such as allspice, nutmeg and cloves, with dry oak and peanut shells. A moderate-lengthy finish showcases more rye spice and oak, with a bitter-burnt note of toast, and spearmint. Altogether—the hearty punch you'd expect from the category with an unexpected bonus in the form of rich, vanilla-infused sweetness. A whiskey begging to be used in an Old Fashioned.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Jim Beam Black Label Double Aged 8 Year
Distiller Score 85
Nose is full of corn, oak and caramel with a hint of vanilla. Palate is sweet followed by spice with fruits, undergrowth and butter. The mouthfeel is a very pleasant surprise. Finish is long with lasting flavors of caramel and wood.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
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Jim Beam Bonded Bourbon
Distiller Score 90
It's Jim Beam and then some. Honey and spice on the nose, along with oak, cherry, and butterscotch. It's a bold taste, rustic but refined, with vanilla, strong mint, bitter chocolate, and pepper. There's also charcoal, tobacco, and hay. Finish is short but warm, with more wood and mint as well as a bit of caramel. Water tames a bit of the bitterness and accentuates red fruits, chocolate, and pepper.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Old Overholt 4 Year Straight Rye Whiskey (86 Proof)
Distiller Score 86
Whole peanuts lead on the nose, with dark chocolate syrup, caramel, and spearmint. The palate is dry up front, with anise, tannic oak, black pepper, and toasted rye bread, along with sweet grape jelly in the back. The finish showcases a touch of heat, with fiery cinnamon and cloves, along with sour cherry, black licorice, malt balls, and menthol.
Reviewed by Jake Emen