WhistlePig The Boss Hog III: The Independent

$300 Notes of oak and vanilla on the nose, slightly sweet and spicy. Tastes great and good down smooth. Really get this burnt brown sugar with a little mint on the palate. Hints of scotch as well . Has a little peat and smoky taste but not overbearing like certain scotch. Nice long finish of spices. Really smooth for being 120 proof. Overall superb whisky but not as good as the black prince 4th edition :)

Like most Alberta rye, I get more vodka notes than whiskey. This is not great.

Nose - (w/o water) Hints of dark cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, oaky, little hints of cherries & vanilla, latte foam. (w/ water) less bitter oak, adds more vanilla latte foam. Taste - (w/o water) Pleasant light herbal oaky butterscotch, lightly fruity bitter apple/cherry stems, dark chocolate bittersweet, hint of coke concentrate. (w/ water) more pronounced anise and butterscotch, more vanilla & cinnamon, fresh strawberries, rainier cherries, wisp of fresh green herbs & sweet mint. Finish - (w/o water) Lingering dry oaky heat, hint of dark chocolate bitterness, coke concentrate, transitions to a light dry mint effervescent feeling (w/ water) Lingering strawberry/Rainier cherry sweet, hint of sweet mint, less oak, more fruity vanilla but still dry. Score - 90/100 Final Thoughts - I guess I really wanted to love this...a lot...mainly due to how much I paid for the bottle and my expectations after trying a single barrel select. It was tasty, but not as "complex" or interesting as I hoped it would be. It's a very tasty rye and has no off-putting notes and is amazingly easy on the nose and palate for the proof. It has handled the 14 years of aging quite well and a bit of water really does open it up to reveal more fruity characters. This is quite tasty but I think it's quite overhyped and overpriced. I obviously wouldn't turn down a dram of this if offered, but I think I'd much rather have their 10 year single barrel selects as I think those have a lot more flavor and punch for the value. I think this would be best served neat with a glass and dropper of water on the side to dilute as needed. A tiny bit of water greatly softens up the oak from the 14 years and makes it a bit more fruity and enjoyable.