Kentucky Owl 10 Year Rye (Batch #3)

Neat. Neck pour. In Chicago for vacation again. Binny’s always has Kentucky Owl Rye. Almost bought one last year and decided to buy 4 bottles of other random things instead at the same price... huge mistake as all the bottles I got were just so-so. I would have rather had the quality over the quantity. Not making the same mistake this trip! Also tried Old Carter Rye sample a few days ago to make a nice comparison. This nose is much better immediately compared to that Old Carter. A layer of smoke on top of a Bear Claw. Reminds me of this casserole my friends mom used to make us during sleepovers growing up. I think she called it Monkey Finger? Similar to cinnamon rolls covered in a sweet cream icing. Starting to get lots of orange and vanilla as well, nice Dreamcicle. Nice layer of oak. Lots of clove coming out. The more I sit with it, it’s getting darker and darker. In love with this nose. Rich and creamy texture. Not as immediately flavorful as the Old Carter. It’s a more subtle experience. Orange zest and vanilla on the tongue with hints of cinnamon and clove. Oak has this deep presence. Mid palate things brighten up more than expected. The orange and vanilla really take off. Then the oak leaves this nice velvety layer of chocolate from mid palate through the finish. Then it’s all orange, citrus, rye spice, pepper, and vanilla on the finish. Lingers for a long time. It’s an amazing pour. I am going to grade it below the Old Carter Rye I had recently. The flavors are this more subtle, soft experience by comparison. The nose is what stands out over the taste. It’s a near perfect nose that hints at more flavors than the soft experience it delivers. Still quite enjoyable and a top tier rye in my collection now (implying it survives the rest of the vacation).

Sweet, oil, spice

Gem of a rye! Super complex and drinks way lower than its ABV.

2020 Advent: Day 1 — Damn! Love the depth on this one. The perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and a tad of pepper. I get a lot of brightness at first, which gives way to a complex fruitiness that’s tempered by the oak, with a subtle and lingering rye spiciness at the end. Smooth for the booze, with a nice orange note.