Barrell Rye Single Barrel #M244

Bottled for The Whisky List for their American Whisky Show virtual tasting event, 2021 Nose: Mint, cinnamon, dill pickle, thyme, sage, dusty oak. Large but a little harsh neat – water adds depth, a pillow-like softness, and much improves the oak notes in the background. Palate: A very sweet arrival with hot cinnamon and peanut brittle. Cherry, peppermint and a lot of black pepper in the development. The texture is good. Water transforms the palate by reigning in the heat, providing desperately needed balance, adding sweet notes and further expanding the density of texture. Finish: Short. Big peppery and spice notes from the palate but they tail out surprisingly fast. An enjoyable enough rye. The nose is the best part, having an enfolding density that promises an interesting palate, particularly once watered. However this promise is unfulfilled in the mouth and the whiskey proves to be merely hot and intense, overly so, and unbalanced when neat. A dash of water is imperative and works miracles by substantially softening and sweetening the palate. There is some development but no length when neat, the intense palate fading quickly and leaving almost no residual taste apart from a peppery tingle. However, once again, water greatly improves the finish. As a neat dram I’d describe this as barely average but once watered it is far more enjoyable and gains at least a whole point in rating, however it is overpriced in our market. Tasted from a 20ml sampler. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)