Pikesville Straight Rye

Amazing nose of cinnamon sugar, butter, and baking spices. Some gingerbread as well. Literally smells like a Snickerdoodle cookie. Could be the best aroma I have ever sampled on a whiskey. Everything in the aroma carries over into the taste which opens with sweet cinnamon, nut, and black cherry notes and then switches to a spicy almost chili pepper like finish. Not a lot of herbaceousness to this for a rye; just a hint of anise, clove, tobacco, and mint in the finish. Tastes more like a high-rye bourbon, but in my opinion is not a bad thing at all. Mouthfeel is vicious and chewy. Finish is medium to long with a cocoa powder note coming after everything else fades. Can’t recommend this enough. Just delicious from start to finish.

Bottom line upfront, this is delicious. The nose is somewhat alcohol forward with notes of baked bread, earthy barrel char, baking spice, and a hint of dried leather in the background. The palate is very sweet with notes of maple, ginger, spiced apples, and cinnamon. Digging a little deeper, burnt brown sugar and dry roasted peanuts present themselves in the background. This tastes pretty smooth for being 110 proof. The finish gives way to notable spice that peaks and subsides into a long, oily finish with a subtle burn slowly tapering off into a final hint of bitter chocolate.

Very earthy

Aroma: Dusty cocoa notes with oaky smoke underneath. Taste: Dry and spicy, with honeyed rye and cloves.