Barrell Seagrass

I really wanted to like this one but it’s too sweet and way too hot, just burns, can’t find the right amount of water to add before it becomes a muddled mess.

You taste the rye but also all the finishes It smells sweet like peaches and rhum But tastes like brandy and rye and rhum Bit the tannic finish and the baking spice Get one is you can, seriously

Let this epic adventure breathe before diving in because this cask strength rye has a mean hug. The nose opens up flavor by flavor the more you wait; you'll notice vanilla, caramel, and raw honey. Each time you take a sip the more this complex mix complements the pallet with flavor. A nice, almost sudden hug to help you feel better about your purchase. It is simply the old fashion of the summer.

This is among the most pale whiskies I’ve ever seen. It is a pale straw in the glass juxtaposed against Willett 4 year. Both are wonderful but I feel like tasting this by itself just didn’t do it justice. Plenty of ethanol on the nose with grassy, spearmint and rye grain notes. There is a bit of snickerdoodle cookie in there as well as dried apricot and maybe even a bit of nougat. The grassy, minty notes are there on the Willett as well as a bit more oak and floral notes but for a fantastic rye it’s almost a bit boring in comparison. The Seagrass just has a funky not-quite-butterscotch sweetness that livens it up. When this hits the tongue - there is an explosive chain reaction. It is hot and oily with upfront rye spices and vanilla and then like dipping your partner a bit too abruptly the apricot, molasses an butter pecan notes take over. It’s as though palate 1 is hip checked out of the way by palate 2. From start to finish this is an oil slick. It’s unconventional but makes me want to take sip after sip just for the experience. So back to Willett 4y rye for a moment. The dark brown sugar, spearmint, cardamon, roasted cinnamon and anise are all there I spades with wood balancing things out. Many of those notes are there with Seagrass but are whisked away in the blink of an eye. So - which is more satisfying? The Willett is so classic, so balanced and so good with earthy tea and tobacco notes. It’s comforting and predictable. The Seagrass - well, it’s complicated. The mouthfeel is outstanding and the beginning classic but the end just a bizarre fruit and almost cloying sweetness. But somehow it works. So there you have it - unconventional but interesting and likely to satisfy if you want to shake things up but likely a bit too left field if you just want classic rye which is stolen quickly from the tongue with this one.

Wow this is different. Apricot really comes through but it’s not overly sweet. Nothing else like it. Yum. Sample from friend