Bulleit 12 Year Rye (2024 Release)

On the nose candied lemon, graham cracker, vanilla, saltwater taffy, menthol, dill, cinnamon, dark chocolate. The palate is plenty punchy for 46% and quite flavorful. Sweet vanilla and brown sugar up front, some cherry Twizzlers, followed by the rye spices with mint, dill, cinnamon, and pepper. There's a little bit of leather going into the finish. It's eminently familiar as MGP 95% rye, but more balanced and refined than the typical 3-6 year versions we've all had dozens of. I enjoy the MGP rye profile, so this is a smash hit with me. In a similar age range, I've looked at buying the Templeton 10 year rye, but have always balked at the price. At under $50 for a 12 year age-stated rye, this is a great deal. I had some concern that it might come across as too thin at 46% (my sweet spot tends to be in the 50-55% range), but as I noted, it has plenty of punch. I think the peppery spice makes it drink a little higher than it is. I recently had a bottle of Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select at 55%, which I believe is a blend of the 95 and 51% rye mashbills, and 7 years old. I prefer the Bulleit 12. The Sagamore seemed to trade turns as a dill and cinnamon bomb. This has both, but in a more enjoyable balance.

Very complex. The extra aging calms an otherwise would-be hot, spicy yet delicious rye whiskey into something between an Angel’s Envy Rye type sweet caramel dessert experience and a hot bottled-in-bond rye like Rittenhouse, It’s a beautiful combination of spicy/sweet and really pops into your mouth with a variety of flavors. Perhaps the best characteristic is the complexity on the pallet from the beginning, to the middle, and finally to the end. Definitely one to take your time on and enjoy. Don’t rush it, keep everything but ice away from it, sniff it, sip it, swirl it, swallow it, then do it all over again…. And again

Nice and tasty, very smooth