Staves & Grain Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

Got a blind sample from an acquaintance - spearmint on the nose. Palate full of baking spices. Finish is medium in length - lingers but doesn't overstay its welcome. Reminds me a lot of Smoke Wagon BiB rye. Great - well above average. Selected by Staves and Grain 7 years old 123.0 proof Barrel SG 094

This barrel was chosen by a friend of mine who lives up in NY. Previously he purchased a Knob Creek barrel and was asked by many in the bourbon community to do another barrel so he worked with Staves & Grain to pick this 7 year rye and once again he killed it. So this bottle i really wish i would have bought more than one because it is amazing. It has all the MGP rye flavors that we love. These guys at S&G know how to pick barrels and so does RJ. The smell is classic aged MGP rye so delicious. I'm a sucker for a good MGP rye and this one smells so good. Not as good as the GTS but it's top 5 for scent for me. I sampled these back to back with the GTS and i honestly like the flavor a smidge better on this than the GTS. The smell goes to GTS by a long shot but this is an excellent rye that's spicy and sweet. the 119.2 proof is perfect. Geez i really love this bottle. They say to share with your friends your special bottles and this one was a special bottle that i shared with some friends i've known for a range of 20-30 years and though some of them aren't whiskey drinkers they said this whiskey was amazing. So hats off to RJ for this pick. The picture is of myself and 3 longtime friends who are also friends with RJ who did the barrel pick.

Wine & Whiskey Cellars pick: Cherry, caramel, rye spice, viscous mouth feel (4.5/5) NJ Yacht Club pick: little more drying, still very good (4.25/5)

Honey, anise, rye, tea leaves. A slightly spicy finish with a little lingering ethanol taste that I don't love.

Local barrel pick. Honey, berries, leather, anise and rye spice finish. Tastes older than 7 years.