Kentucky Owl 11 Year Rye (Batch #2)

Funky grass and licorice on the nose Nice smooth floral on the palate with a slight spice on the end

I wanted to wait until my second bottle to write this review. I love Willett 4 year, but this was a flavor explosion, with a lot less raw heat. This, in my opinion is better than batch #3, but I may not be in the majority there. I was late getting into KO for better or worse, everyone has their own taste, but I went home and cracked my bottle of this, and the next day, I went and scored a second bottle because I loved it so much. The nose is classic. It is honey, grass, green herbs (specifically dill and mint). The dill stands out to me because I don't pick that up often, and I do not like pickles, but for some reason, I key in on in it here, and I really enjoy it. The palate is totally bonkers. I love how smooth it is for the proof, it glides along and stays with you for some time. It lingers longer than most rye I've had. I must admit, and it was the reason I waited to write this review until I cracked my second bottle, I didn't get the KO rye at first. It took me a few glasses before I really started to crave it. Now its hard for me to not reach for this. Those grassy and honey notes show up on the palate they hit right up front than that dill shows up with the age of this 11 year rye. The finish is really what separates this from other delicious ryes I've had. I admit, I do not look at this as a rye for everyone, I look at this as a rye that is 100% for me. A lot of people may never try this because of the price tag, but if this bottle cost $80 you would never be able to find it. I'm not going to tell you the taste commands the $180 price tag, but I am on my second bottle. I also went scooped a rye batch #3 and that led me to the bourbon Batch #9, my unicorn. I think the best part of this rye is drinking it as it opens up. It is a lovely journey, pour a nice big glass and let it do its thing over 40 minutes or so.

Wow! I’ll probably never be able to buy a bottle, but what a taste for a rye!

Grassy and cinnamon and definitely not hitting my palate the way a good rye should.

So store offered me this for 180, was with some rye fans so figured I'd share it. Nose - vanilla, oak and crazy rye spice forward. Taste - This is just crazy over the top rye spice and sweetness. I guess I should get into some notes but it's kinda just all over with mint and honey mustard and cereal, and then just all kinds of baking spices and what not like crazy. I mean it's ok nice spices and flavor but it's lacking any signs of high end whisky for this crazy price. So here's where I'm at and confused. It's flavorful and I'm enjoying the flavors but the 11 years doesn't come off here at all. It's not really more complex than a willet 4 year. I continue to come away feeling the blender for Kentucky Owl, Dixon isn't any good at blending. He's just throwing together intense flavors and sometimes they don't fail. If you're a rye fan this might be a 3.0, but for me this is a 1.75. It's flavorful but unhinged.

👀 light Amber 👃 pepper on oranges, honey mustard, mint, baking spices 👅Flavor 💥, honey on oranges 🧠spicy sweet citrus WOW! 🏅Long spice finish but not a crazy heavy spice but a smooth one it’s an amazing rye! Hard to pay $180-$200 for it though!