Blackened Rye the Lightning (2022 Release)

It’s light and sweet with a nice mouthfeel. The rum and Madeira finish works perfectly with the rye. If this had a slightly higher proof it would be perfect.

Rating: 14/23 N: It's kind of oily with dill and mint hints, along with a sweetness that makes me think of confectioner's sugar. Hints of orange peel, along with a rye richness buried underneath. Faint caramel. Light rye spices and faint grains. P: Richer than I'd expected, with lots of grain flavor that has wort hints, but avoids actually tasting like wort, particularly because it has a lot of caramel sweetness that is just a little on the light side and mixes with some vanilla. Rye spices with mild herbal notes. A faint touch of citrus. F: Clean, with light grains, some spices carrying some heat, faint herbs, faint clean water sweetness. It's pretty boring, actually. A long, lingering, faint, floral, herbal, vanilla sweetness. - Conclusion - This is easy to drink. It's tasty, but not all that interesting. It's kind of like a rye for people who aren't sure they like rye, but also don't want a rye that tastes like a bourbon. Russell's Reserve 10 (16/23) is way better than this. This is beating Red Blooded (10/23). I'm thinking a 12 to 14, but maybe an 11. Not a 15. I'd choose a 13 right now. Yeah, I'm thinking a 13. It could be a 12, but I'm leaning toward a 13. Coming back to this the next day, I'm leaning more toward a 14. Thank you to the always generous @Milliardo for sharing this sample :)