The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey

Another Sooner sample. This is a bit different. Nose has celery, playdough, some orange pekoe tea leaves with a mandarin sweetness. Palate carries the sweet notes but adds some oak and mild herbal rye spice. Finish fades the palate to green barrel dryness. This is interesting but tastes a little artificial. I like the Aussie spin but doubt I would buy this if I saw it......70/100

The nose starts with a mix of fresh cut grass, motor oil and bergamot orange then slightly burnt caraway seeds followed by sour apple, lemon juice and grapefruit pith that transitions to dill, spearmint and charred pumpernickel bread with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with a moderate sour and bitter spice that fades to a mix of fresh cut grass, motor oil and bergamot orange then slightly burnt caraway seeds followed by sour apple, lemon zest and grapefruit pith that transitions to dill, spearmint and burnt pumpernickel bread with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with burnt pumpernickel bread, vanilla extract and dill. Overall, this isn't great and the youthfulness is apparent with those sour fruits and bitter herbal rye notes that could really use some more time in the barrel to polish the flavors out better. I'd be interested to see how this tastes with some more age. Thanks @soonershrink for the generous sample to try this rye from Australia.

I totally bought this for the marketing. It's got a nice-looking bottle and I love the name. I didn't have high expectations for the whiskey, although it seems some have been pleasantly surprised by this. The nose is reminiscent of wet grass, something medicinal, green wood, and maybe apple. The palate has more sweetness than expected given the nose, and some herbal rye notes come through, but the youth of this 2-year old rye stands out. I'd really like to try this at 4 or 6 years old, as it seems too green now. Great marketing though, so I hope the whiskey catches up.

NOSE Dry-woody, citrus, baking spice, touches of vanilla, cereal grain sweetness and toffee with a light biscuity note. There is some of that “crafty-woodiness” to the aroma, but it’s far from being the dominating characteristic. PALATE Baking spice, vanilla, bergamot, cereal grain sweetness, honey, woody oak and some toffee and herbal notes. Not bad, in fact, it’s rather nice. The “crafty-woodiness” does rear its head, but it’s not strong or overbearing. FINISH Medium -> Baking spice, citrus peel and woody oak fade to more spice.

The more I taste, the more I appreciate it as a mixer; strong enough to punch through and add a signature note to drinks, a bit harsh on its own.

Tried it in a boulevardier; felt almost too much but it was the only straight rye I had on hand . . . like Christ on a bike, this combo is unexpected, deceptively complex, and delightful.

(Drinking straight). Smells of fresh rye bread. On sippping, alot sweeter than I expected; vanilla and toffee straight off the bat before the barrel-tinged fruit opens up. A buttery mouthfeel throughout which mellows to woodsy spice as it dies off.

Smooth and complex

Aged for 2 years in new American oak this young rye from Melbourne, Australia exhibits aromas of rye bread and peppery spice. Edgy palet, tempered by a creamy oiliness. Throw in some charred vanilla notes.