robertmaxrees
WhistlePig FarmStock Rye Crop No. 003
Rye — Multiple Countries
Reviewed
March 8, 2021 (edited March 23, 2021)
Nose: Nutmeg and cinnamon lead the charge, with dill and a little cumin. Cardamom pods, too. Some vanilla and icing, with a touch of oak - not much in the way of char here. I'm reminded of the slightly sweet vegetal character of red bell peppers. Also luxardo cherries if you dialed back the sweetness. Raisins and pine sap. Letting it open up a little and citrus oil and rosemary come through. And that pure rye character also shows up, too. Flat off-brand cola. The sweetness also ramps up a decent amount, alongside some solid toasted black peppercorn.
Palate: Getting vanilla, white sugar, oak, rye, and nutmeg. Banana with chocolate and a little cinnamon. That hit of baking spices and black pepper are all here, too. Home Run apple pie but without the icing and a touch of lemon. Tannins come through just enough, with a little bitterness. Black tea is also here, though just barely. Everything is somewhat well balanced, leaning more on the subtle side. Mouthfeel is light.
Finish: Sugar, vanilla, apples, cinnamon. A little oak comes into play and then we get lemon pepper and pine. Some very slight wet cardboard vibes, but not like you get from certain parts of the tail cuts. Medium length.
Other notes: WhistlePig helped me understand the concept of a "distillery profile". Everything I've had from them shares some attributes that I actually quite enjoy. I have yet to be disappointed by any of their releases, and I'm glad that this meets my expectations. It's not perfect, however. This has bitter citrus character that I want contrasted some more with maybe some sweetness, oak, or a touch of char. Maybe smaller casks at a higher char level? Regardless, this is another solid release and though the line hasn't quite earned a permanent spot in my bar, it's still one I can recommend if you dig rye, enjoy WhistlePig, or want something a little different. Cheers!
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