So looking at my last couple of reviews I’ve been doling out 4+ ratings like candy, so lest you think I find everything amazing time to review something that is not so much as my exploration of the Oak and Eden line continues… My second review of this offering, this time a Total Wine Store Pick coming in at 116 proof. Nose: ok “charred oak” is right, so much so it’s hard to get other things out it. Luckily for this rye I like smoky/char aromas and flavors; smoke, charcoal, burnt ends barbecue, and a hint of rye spice and pepper. Aroma is definitely powerful and low on ethanol so yay for that. Palate: like the nose, charred flavors rule here. Burnt sugars like you’d find on top of a creme brûlée (minus the custard underneath) ash, smoke, and bitter scorched oak. Nothing smooth or refined about this one; it’s the whiskey equivalent of a donkey kick to the teeth. Finish: Oh man, we’re going downhill fast. Hints of mint and eucalyptus followed by…you guessed it…more char. The mint has a medicinal quality reminiscent of toothpaste. It’s actually pretty long, but you definitely wish it was shorter. Prickly heat. Mouthfeel is grainy like 40 grit sandpaper and is bone-ass dry. This is the kind of whiskey I picture Clint Eastwood pulling out of his pack in an old Spaghetti Western; strong, harsh and biting. I’m almost certainly giving this too high a rating, but as I said I kind of like charred smokey flavors. This is like a Balcones without the brown sugar sweetness and full, oily mouthfeel so therefore nowhere near as good. Worse than the 90 proof non-store pick version, which is a little bizarre. At $55, it’s an epic fail and while I didn’t totally hate it, I bet most people would.