Impressions @ 1/3 bottle: 2018 batch, 56.9% abv Exploring this bottle has highlighted how my palate has changed over the years. I purchased and opened this bottle when I first began exploring whiskey in 2018, and my notes simply read: 'grape kool aid' and 'sharp'. Fast forward to today, and I find a lot more complexity and enjoyment. The nose still presents a lot of grape, but it's a drier variety that you might find in a Cognac or Armagnac. I also get a lot more caramel and maple syrup which I didn't find earlier, likely because it's somewhat buried under the higher proof. The palate starts off with a really heavy clay note that I found really off-putting when I was new to whisky. Even after oxidation, it's still very much there, but it's calmed down some and now feels better integrated with the fruit and spice notes that follow. The mid-palate finds lovely notes of dark cherries, golden raisins, and maple syrup before a very assertive toasted rye note carries you through the finish. The finish has always been outstanding on this whiskey, in that it's very long and gently warming in a way that very much compliments the rye flavors that emerge. I was initially put off by this rye, but I've come to really appreciate and enjoy it. It's interesting, available, well-presented, and affordable. I would encourage new rye drinkers to try it and perhaps come back to it over time.