Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey (80 proof)

This is an 86 proof rye that's four years old. Most of the sources I found indicated that the mash bill is unknown, but one article from 2023 said that it's not Jim Beam's usually rye mash (Jim Beam owns the label), but rather is 80% rye and 20% sprouted barley. The preponderance of the evidence is against that one writer, but I do find Old Overholt to be more characteristically rye than Knob Creek rye, which also comes from Jim Beam. It's dark copper in the glass. NOSE: Right off the back I got honey and apples. Then came a flowery note that I only got once or twice, and then vanished. Once the flowery note was gone there was a strong apple juice note, a slight note of mixed spices, and finally spicy butter. MOUTHFEEL: Smooth but thin. TASTE: I kind of wish I hadn't picked tonight to do my review, since my palate just didn't get as much from the glass as I've gotten in the past. Palates are changeable, and what is great one time might seem less so on another occasion. I would've foregone the review until another time, but I'd been planning to do one for two or three weeks and wanted to finally accomplish the task. All I got tonight was spice and oak, but previously I've gotten a definite sweetness as well - but I can't recall the specifics of it. This whisky is better than it seems from what I got from this pour. FINISH: Spiced oak and a vegetal note, with a medium length. SUMMARY: This juice is better than it seems from this review. It's not a great rye, but it is good, and I'll buy it again. And I confidently expect that the next time this bottle comes up in the rotation, it'll give me what I've learned to expect from it - not the most complex whisky there is, but certainly one worth the price, and more. RATING: On my hick scale it's the fifth level (there are eight, counting from the bottom), which is Good. That translates into 3.125 stars, 62.5/100, or 6.25/10.

Neat: caramel, vanilla Good

Nice nose, almost syrupy sweet. Harsh burn on the back of the mouth. Short finish.