Rating: 16/23 N: The first thing that hits is a caramel sweetness. It's on the light side but has some surprisingly decadent Christmas notes of plum pudding and eggnog. Past that, there are clean, dry herbs, along with rye spice. Hints of glacé apricots and lemon zest. I really have to commend this for its sweetness and lack of off flavors. This is a really hedonistic nose, which is a real surprise considering that it's fairly light. P: Big spiciness, but with a sweetness underneath it that is rich but not super full. It has a little caramel richness going on, but I really do get that eggnog creaminess in the flavor profile. The spices get herbal and really scream rye, more than most other drams come close to. As I go on, I taste more cinnamon and vanilla coming out specifically. Maybe hints of dark chocolate. There's more burn than I'd like, particularly considering the palate's light flavor, but it really tastes authentically rye in a way that few other drams manage. F: This gets unfortunately bitter. The spices remain, along with a long herbal flavor and hints of vanilla. Unfortunately, it isn't a chocolatey or leathery bitterness that remains, but more of a bland herbal flavor with a vegetal hint. Not a good bitterness is what I'm saying. Long, long on the finish, there are some light hints of tropical fruit. - Conclusion - This is a very good example of a slowly-aged rye that makes a point of really being a rye. It fits its niche well, but it certainly is challenging and even getting past the difficult part it isn't super fun. That isn't to say that this isn't enjoyable to drink (it is), but there isn't really a wow-factor beyond it being a prime example of its category. I wouldn't go below a 15 here, but I don't see an 18 happening. Side-by-side, this is beating Pikesville (16/23), but it's seeing some solid competition from Whistlepig Piggyback (16/23). I'd sooner call this a 17 than a 16, but it seems like right now it's yet another 16 rye.