Nose - anise, peppermint, dry herbal notes, banana bread, dill, yeast, spiced apple, caramel, vanilla, clove, dry oak, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - anise, peppermint, apple, orange oil, dill, underripe banana, vanilla, caramel, clove, earthy herbal notes, white pepper, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with peppermint, anise, rye spice, and caramel flavors. I’ve tasted MGP rye under many different names, but since I just finished a series of George Remus offerings, I figured another MGP house brand would be the next logical step. There’s no mistaking this for a rye on the nose. The ethanol is very strong, which makes it a bit difficult to identify individual aromas. But once you overcome the fumes, anise, dill, banana bread, and clove are all present in spades. The palate is similarly alcohol-forward. This is one spicy rye. Many of the same qualities appear as flavors. There’s very little sweetness. Almost all the notes are herbal, minty, peppery, and citrusy. I’m a fan of spicy ryes, but this is so hot, bright, and earthy that it strikes me as one-dimensional. It’s certainly better than average, but I’d be more likely to take this in a high-octane cocktail than neat in a nosing glass.