Pike Creek 10 Year Rum Barrel Finish

This is one of my favorite "cheap" whiskey's that I can buy locally in Ohio. I think that I like it so much is because they finish it in Rum barrels and Rum is my generally my go to mixer. Though, Gin has worked its way up the list on things that I start with. My synopsis is, if you like burnt or "blackened" whiskey this may not be for you as its threshold is a sweet and smooth on the palate. I've given this as a gift many times and it is generally well received.

heavy rum influence on the nose and the palate

brown sugar, rum hints

What a tasty treat for not that much treasure! I continue to be surprised by Canadian whisky and all the lovely flavors (that easily stand up against my favorite scotches in a different but equal way) and the incredibly accessible price point most of them are at. I like rum. I like it in cocktails. I like it neat. I’m particularly fond of the Eldorado 15 year, which is like drinking liquid Nutella (also makes a damn fine hot buttered rum!). Immediately on the nose of this whisky you’re greeted by vanilla, demura sugar, but none of that rummy funk. On the taste, those rum notes are definitely there but it doesn’t overpower the whisky, which shows up more in the finish with that trademark Canadian smoothness. A return sip still leads with the rum finish on the nose and palate, but you get a little more of the whisky flavors the second go around. The finish is long and slow, and takes you through a symphony of rummy goodness and whisky warming. A very fine pairing, and I’m tacking on a few extra points for the completely unreasonable and low price of $28 USD. You’d pay over three times that for a rum finished scotch or Irish with less of the savory results. Grab this when you can!

Maybe this was a victim of unrealistic high expectations from reviews but I came away disappointed... which is rare for me when it comes to whiskey. The rum influence overtakes everything!!! [sad face]. Maybe some time in the future, some oxidation might do it some good but I’m not holding out much hope. Sucks I bought an extra bottle before I tried it [sadder face] Best case scenario for me at this point is using a tiny splash in my growing infinity bottle(s). UPDATE (2020): Bottle kill edition. Some oxidation did help in rounding out the cloying edges from the overwhelming rum influence, which made it a bit more drinkable. Also worked decently well in my DIY home blends. Still, it didn’t really change my overall score for this dram. Any possible improvements were so negligible as to register in my taste Richter scale to move the needle. Cheers!

Sadly there's nothing there... just a weak rum taste. It's almost as if you get no benefits of a good rye and no benefits of a good rum. I think, ultimately, the low proof kills it. The average person might call it "smooth" but I call it "a waste."