Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon

You must love high rye whiskey or be in the mood. It's a nice to have bottle and good with cigars but not going to hunt for it

Nose offers candied tangerine, butterscotch, banana, oak, marzipan, and leather. Bizarrely, ethanol seems to come and go with some sniffs offering a distracting presence and others no more than a mild note. Palate opens with big butterscotch promised in the nose, along with caramel, vanilla, and then some apricot and citrus zest in the mid-palate. Flavors are not terribly complex but decently stout. So far, so good, right? Well sadly the finish runs things completely off the rails; harsh and jagged with young notes of bitter oak, atomic fireball candy, and astringent alcohol. Its exceptionally long, but you wish it wasn’t. Mouthfeel is grainy and abusive to the tongue after repeated sipping. A promising start that ultimately became a big disappointment. All the blending in the world can’t hide the youngness of this whiskey. I know this bottle is en vogue but I call ‘em like I taste ‘em. Sorry, not sorry. Found this mispriced at $50, and still can’t recommend. At its normal price of around $90? Laughable. Not sure what other reviewers are getting here that I am not, but for me we are in hard avoid category.

Carmel, vanilla, baking spices, bubble gum. Great nose; floral and sweet. Sweet but medium finish. Does not drink like the proof.

Not my favorite rye, but still a nice offering. Finish doesn't linger, but mild char and rye spice.

Sweet with heat. This is an exceptional bourbon.