Pikesville Straight Rye

Nice deep amber color. Aroma is soft and pleasant. Hints of caramel. First taste is sweet, but the high proof is immediately apparent. As the burn subsidies you taste the oak prominent, but pleasant. The oak loungers long and smooth on the finish. Vanilla, oak, and a touch of smoke are the main taste. Very smooth for 110 proof. Warms the belly nicely. A splash of water dulls the burn, but doesn’t really alter the flavor, just allow you to taste and enjoy. A very good whiskey.

So Thanksgiving has been a rye day for me after finishing the half dram of New Riff winter whiskey. Rye is a change of pace for me but I do enjoy one on occasion and my son has an open bottle. Apple and pumpkin pie on the plate and Pikesville in a glencairn. After it sits 10 minutes and have finished most of the apple pie, I nose it. Wow, a lot going on here First I get cinnamon red hots and a touch of burnt marshmallow, deep down there's black tea, Let it breathe some more and there's a bready element. Back to some pie and then a taste. I get that cinnamon burn and sweet corn in the background. The tea really comes through on the finish and nicely dries the palate for that next bite of pie. This is a really good one but my last indulgence was the Kentucky Owl which was outstanding. In one respect I may judge this more harshly but then it is about 1/4 the price which makes me bring it back up? This is a staple here with my Florida family and friends and I understand why. My first taste but it will be a regular in my liquor cabinet from now on. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We certainly did. 75 degrees at meal time and set up tables for the whole neighbor hood in the middle of the street.