High West Double Rye

Whim purchase, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it...Nose is clean and fragrant with spices; mint, torn basil and a hint of sage mostly. The palate is hard to pin down, but always opens very earthy, almost dirty, with an overpowering presence of fresh-turned potting soil. A large sip next leads to juniper, sour apples and mint before the oak takes you to the finish. A small sip with a bit of air goes from earth to an almost fishy flavor not unlike Korean fish sauce barbecue, then goes minty with a smaller apple presence before the oak carries you to the finish. The finish in both cases is similar, with hints of astringency, more juniper (or outright balsam needles to be more truthful) and then a warm cinnamon dryness that lingers for a few minutes. This is nothing if not interesting; a complex whisky that doesn't conform to any norms yet manages to touch all of them. Not as sweet as a bourbon, not as rich as a good Scotch, not as floral as a good Irish, yet hints of all three are woven into each sip. If oddball is your thing, this is a good buy...otherwise find a well-stocked bar before committing to the whole bottle.

Caramel flavor, burns, then vanilla