Bulleit 12 Year Rye (2024 Release)

Nose: Tart green apple, hints of wheat, some baking and rye spice Pallete: Apple up front into a vanilla/caramel wave with a light bitter oak Finish: Medium, spicy finish of bitter oak, baking spices, and white pepper

Nose: crisp green apple, smooth caramel, and soft wheat Taste: soft and sweet, slightly spicy up front. Overall profile is very soft and sweet, with a lingering oak and spice. Spice moves towards the back as I continue to sip. Finish: long, dull sweetness with oak and good bit of light spice

Perfect amount of spice with hints of vanilla and caramel.

Nose brings fresh, minty wintergreen, baked muffin, caraway seed, rye spice, white pepper, cinnamon, and lemongrass. Nice mix of sweet and spicy here. Not exceptionally herbal. Ethanol welcomely subdued. Palate continues the sweet and spicy with vanilla, the white pepper from the nose, mint, oregano, brown sugar, dill weed, and a surprising hint of peach and cantaloupe. Flavors are well integrated, albeit not the most robust. Medium length finish features rye bread, cinnamon, toasted oak, leather, and musty funk. Mouthfeel is full bodied and slick, which is a real plus. A nice offering with no major flaws and at $54, it’s a crazy value for 12 year MGP in today’s market. The elephant in the room for me is the proof; I just like my ryes bigger and bolder. A 115 proof version of this might be the best rye on the planet, but alas we have this one. That said it’s still very good and much better than the 2019 version which was significantly more dry and bitter. Barely squeaks into rebuy rating with a 4.0.

Mint on nose. Caramel on palate.