Nose - baked apple, earthy mint, pine, cashew butter, cocoa, clove, allspice, leather, dill, cinnamon, anise, caramel, spiced vanilla, yeast, herbal tea, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - mint, anise, leather, pine, clove, allspice, caramel, toasted barley, dry vanilla, dill, tar, spiced apple, wood polish, cinnamon, black tea, dark chocolate, high alcohol bite, finishing medium long with leather, mint, spiced apple, and strong baking spice flavors. I really enjoy the standard Dad’s Hat, so when I saw this single barrel cask strength bottling for around $60, I knew it would be coming home with me. Interestingly, it’s been a year since I bought the bottle and the store still has a lot of stock, so I don’t think it’s selling very well. The nose provides the classic Monongahela aromas but punchier than I’ve encountered before, with spiced apple, cashew butter nuttiness, minty rye spices, and roasty toasty barley notes. The palate carries much of the same, but with strong, tannic leather and a varnish-like quality I liken to wood polish. Overall, this is delicious rye at a good price point, especially given that it’s under four years old. It’s rich, spicy, and bold. Everything I like in a rye. Grab one if you see it on the shelf.