Chicken Cock Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye

Smells like a straight bourbon on the nose, with cream corn and a hint of vanilla. Rye only comes out after it's been in the glass a while, and subdued at that. A soft rye. The front of the palate is incredibly gentle, with a gentle roll across the tongue, almost like you're having fresh rye bread out of the oven. The taste really does unfurl and grow with a sparkle of spice before a little of the rum influence kicks in near the finish. There's no burn in the finish either. A very pleasant rye that doesn't bring a lot of the rum finish to the table outright but then again it doesn't need to. The gentle rye extends from nose to palate to finish without ever overawing. A great intro to rye for the price with something left to enjoy for the connoisseur.

Rating it lower for how overpriced it is. Where the regular bourbon is just boring, this is unpleasant. Almost no nose, some astringency, mild black pepper, and an artificial tasting sweetness. Missing rye spice somehow. Quick finish, weak, forgettable.