Rating: 13/23 N: This is maltier with more alcohol than I'd expected. It has that kind of herbal rye tartness leaning a tad into mint with the faintest herbal character and also some granny smith apple. Not super complex, but it does come across as high proof. P: Yeah, it's high proof. It has a lot of alcohol and burn. There isn't a ton of wood, but there is some nice rye with green apple alongside peppery spice, some vanilla, and mild caramel. These are all good things, but they aren't melded or matured very well. This isn't harsh, but it is quite hot and clearly youthful. a bigger swig does meld and balance the flavors more with some added caramel sweetness, but it's still hot and not that full. F: Sweet creek water and minerals start coming out. I get spices with wood, faint vanilla, and faint green apple as well. The rye grainiess is there a tad a well. Its core is good, but the watery side of it is a problem. - Conclusion - This isn't bad, but I wouldn't buy a bottle of it. It's depending on its proof instead of its character. It needs more time to age and fill out its profile and develop more mature, balanced flavors. This is less full than my bottle of Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength 4 Year (14/23), but the Old Scout tastes like its aging was rushed a bit, so it's less balanced and nuanced. I'm placing the two in a competitive range, though if I have to pick one over the other, I'll go for the Old Scout. This is either a 13 or 14. Oh, wow. Wild Turkey 101 (14/23) beats this. It's definitely a 13. Thanks for the sample, @ctbeck11 !