Sazerac Rye

Nice straw color. Fairly good legs. Initial honey notes on the nose, then the rye bread and leather notes, dried fruit maybe raisins. you can't really benefit from the flavors of the whiskey without water. tons of spice sour apples on the palate. medium finish. At the end of the day, I think Crown Royal's Hand Barrel Select and certainly WhistlePig are better choices.

It’s a solid classic rye with a beautiful bottle. It's got about as much rye spice as I’d want, without being overwhelming, as well as rich oak and a bright rich nondescript fruit sweetness. It’s got a slightly young/raw/bitter side near the finish (partially oak tannins) but the otherwise great taste profile is worth it. $56 in Ontario.

Right up there with Rittenhouse. Probably one of the better dollar for dollar ryes out there. The reviewer hit the nail on this one---really feels like you're taking that first bite into a Big Red chewing gum. Fruity, bold, with a slight burn. Just like I consider Ardbeg 10 the staple of affordable great scotch, this is its equivalent---great VFM, solid hitter, and equally good over ice or neat. Thanks Jack for this sample!!