Templeton Rye Barrel Strength (2019 Edition)

Did some research on this one , each year Templeton specifically select the best barrels that they have in the aging warehouse. The ages of the barrels used vary year on year but apparantly they are between 6 and 12 years old. Maybe knowing a little bit more about this swayed my opinion but i thought it was fantastic , adding a little bit of water as i went allowed me to find the exact sweet spot that i wanted the abv to be for my tastes. Exactly what a cask strength straight rye whiskey should be. A great find.

Appearance: rose and straw like with thin quick legs. Nose: Ethanol, dill, and saltwater taffy. The nose is very faint. Palate: There is a medicinal quality to it almost like isopropyl alcohol initially. This is a young tasting one for sure with a bit of chocolate. The palate is a bit more rich than the nose but this lacks substance for me. Needs more time in the barrel for sure. Finish: Quick and unfulfilling. The medicine taste lives on! Overall- Not the worst rye I have ever had but far from the best. It is young and has a distinct rubbing alcohol note that I just can't dismiss. So many better ones out there for the price. Old Forester Rye, Wheel Horse and WT101 Rye to name a few in the under 30.00 range that are way better than this one.

My son came home from NC for Christmas and he typically likes a rye. We were going to pick up something else but this one caught our eye. Flavor profile was spicy but just right. Smooth enough to sip but we used single ice ball and it was delicious. Try it, you won’t regret it.