Pinhook 4 Year Tiz Rye Time Vertical Series

This rye whisky has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It's 97 proof, and isn't available at Total Wine here in Albuquerque - I'm tasting a sample someone gave me. The Tucson Total Wine store lists a fifth at $49.99. The color is amber, with perhaps a faint red tinge. The legs form very slowly and close together, run down very slowly, and are erratic - one leg will be far down while the one next to it will be just beginning to run. The nose on this whisky is fantastic. It begins with a very clear floral note, then a fruity aroma, with a very faint note of oak coming in. Putting my nose deeper into the glass brought forth smells of gingerbread, bananas, caramel, and a tinge of rye spice. This was a very pleasant nose, and prepared me for great things, which, alas, didn't come to pass. On the palate this whisky was far less complex. There was most definitely the spice of the rye, with a slight fruitiness and a faint taste of oak. The finish was short, with a very powerful spice, and oak along with it. I frankly much prefer Bulleit rye, which has a simpler nose but a more complex taste and finish, and is better overall, or even Knob Creek rye, which isn't quite up to the Bulleit standard. The nose is by far the best part of the whisky. The distiller needs to put in a lot of work to get the taste and finish up to the standard the nose sets. I would be willing to pay $15 or $20 for this, but there's no way I would ever pay $49.99 for it.

It’s hard not too like this rye. A great level of rye spice balanced out. It’s a great sipper and a fantastic rye for a Manhattan. If you are so inclined to ad your own smoke it makes the best smoked Manhattan available.

This is a popular rye in my house, classic MGP. Looking forward to doing this vertical each year