Pikesville Straight Rye

If nothing else, the bottle itself is beautiful. Unremarkable colour (especially considering the high proof), and a nose that I would initially describe as . . . dusty. Just dust, caked dirt, gritty, something akin to a dry farmhouse. Persist and you get some nice baking and brining spice (lots of clove, anise, caraway seed, a touch of dill, faint mint), vanilla, fresh-cut lumber, and faint sweet cherry and grape. Surprisingly little burn at 110 proof, though the heat builds considerably on the tongue. A flavour that's quite mild--initial fresh grain, baking and brining spices, but it's an oddly thin character at this proof, and it's buttressed by a lot of dry-wood, toothpick-y bitterness. A bit of vanilla, faint cherry, apple and applewood. But a lot of fairly harsh graininess. And a surprisingly short finish as well, that's dry and tannic. A bit of cinnamon and apple after a few sips. Curiously--and I'd have to do a side-by-side to confirm this--a bit of a disappointment: a notch below Rittenhouse for me, even at a much-inflated price. Not terrible, but stick with the Ritt.

Note- very pleasant maple syrup Body- dry with a bit of pepper and light cloves Finish- hot to sweet with a bit of that briny note I get in rye Note- I like this a lot better the second time. Warms my head and not my chest. Easy to drink slowly. I don’t recommend drinking quickly.