Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye

Rating: 13/23 N: This is maltier with more alcohol than I'd expected. It has that kind of herbal rye tartness leaning a tad into mint with the faintest herbal character and also some granny smith apple. Not super complex, but it does come across as high proof. P: Yeah, it's high proof. It has a lot of alcohol and burn. There isn't a ton of wood, but there is some nice rye with green apple alongside peppery spice, some vanilla, and mild caramel. These are all good things, but they aren't melded or matured very well. This isn't harsh, but it is quite hot and clearly youthful. a bigger swig does meld and balance the flavors more with some added caramel sweetness, but it's still hot and not that full. F: Sweet creek water and minerals start coming out. I get spices with wood, faint vanilla, and faint green apple as well. The rye grainiess is there a tad a well. Its core is good, but the watery side of it is a problem. - Conclusion - This isn't bad, but I wouldn't buy a bottle of it. It's depending on its proof instead of its character. It needs more time to age and fill out its profile and develop more mature, balanced flavors. This is less full than my bottle of Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength 4 Year (14/23), but the Old Scout tastes like its aging was rushed a bit, so it's less balanced and nuanced. I'm placing the two in a competitive range, though if I have to pick one over the other, I'll go for the Old Scout. This is either a 13 or 14. Oh, wow. Wild Turkey 101 (14/23) beats this. It's definitely a 13. Thanks for the sample, @ctbeck11 !

very clean palate. plenty of rye notes with 95% mashbill & touch of sweetness underneath. would make an excellent mixer as well. no messin around here, just a good solid rye whiskey.

What rye has ever been this good and flown this far under radar? The brand obviously hasn’t achieved the level of recognition and notoriety the Remus line has. Maybe it doesn’t look like an exciting bottle from the outside? Damn shame if so, because what’s inside is explosive. In fact, Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye is SO good at $60, I’d argue it offers the same kind of anarchic, upending value OF Rye does at $23. Maybe one of the all-time great sleeper bottles ever, but when you know…you’ll KNOW.

083 barrels used. Great nose of peppercorn and vanilla. Taste is a crisp and sharp rye with woody (not “oakey”) flavor. Bought on discount rack at Belmont Bev up on Main and Cleveland rd.

Private Group Pick. Great, robust flavor. Like an almond joy or Mounds. Some chocolate and coconut.