Minor Case Straight Rye Sherry Cask Finished

Sweet and I get the raisins.

The nose is a lot more dry and spicy than expected, with nary a hint of sweetness. Some mineral and interesting fruit notes (apple) do make it through, but it still smells light and young. The barrel presence is quite present on the nose and there's a bit of earthiness too. The palate is dry as expected and is also light, but a distinct juicy cherry and strawberry flavor comes through. Although there is spice, this drink is surprisingly smooth. It's also quite balances, despite its light flavor and it does have a fairly full body. In terms of style, it sure wouldn't be my first choice, but it's actually really good. The dancing complexity is quite nice and the fruitiness prints out some nice sweetness. Sometimes, the fruit sweetness does become a bit obtrusive like in Oban Little Bay. I'd like some more richness to balance out the fruity sweetness, but the amount of spice is just right with some pepper and clove. There's some bitter herbal character that comes in and works well. It's a solid inclusion that reminds me a bit of Copper Fox Rye, though less extreme. Overall, I enjoy this decently well, but it could use some more age. I'm torn between a 14 and a 15, but I think that the sweetness and herbaceousness on the finish are a bit jarring and net it the lower score of 14.