Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye (2022 Release)

From Ross and Squibb (MGP), straight rye whiskey from 82 barrels, aged 7 years, bottled at 117.2 barrel proof (58.6 ABV) in 2022. Tasted neat. Color is a nice deep rosie brown with strong coating legs in the glass. Nose is light cereal and grassy with some vanilla oak. In the mouth, rush of rye grain and spice and syrup sweetness. Then the ethanol rush hits--not unpleasant but there. That brings up a kind of acerbic tannic oak and leather flavor, dry and rather thin-feeling in the mouth. In the finish that tannic oak note mixes with rye spice and a fairly long sweet grassy exit. An ice cube really opens and rounds out this flavor profile, highlighting the sweeter grassier side of the rye. Makes for much easier sipping. And I just mixed this in a Whiskey Smash (mint, lemon, sugar, ice) and it really shines (although $$$ for a mixing rye). It's nice to see MGP as Ross and Squibb putting out and marketing their own product. We know they make great whiskies, so they should showcase the best of what they make in their own brands (Rossville and Remus), right?! But... I'm not sure they are... yet. But I'm ready to follow along and find out.

Nose features grass, fennel, freshly milled rye grain, honey, oregano, thyme, pumpernickel bread, caramel, melon, and pine. Ethanol a little intrusive at times. Nicely complex. Palate is spicy and herbaceous, which comes as no shock. Big black pepper notes along with vanilla, caramel, mint, and a hint of leafy herb from the nose (at gunpoint I’d say oregano) Finish bring some welcome sweetness in the form of graham cracker and chocolate (where did THAT come from?) The rye spice from the palate turns into a chili pepper vibe. Peppermint in there as well. Mouthfeel is deliciously chewy. Pretty much what I want of out of a rye; with nearly equal parts sweet, spicy, and herbal. I believe I paid $83 for this which I feel is fair. Very solid.

Thick, sweet for rye, not harsh despite 123 proof.