This is a 4 year old rye that was finished in American oak barrels that were smoked with aged Kentucky tobacco leaves then bottled at 52.5% ABV. The nose starts with a mix of butterscotch pudding, tangerine orange peel and moderate spearmint followed by freshly baked pumpernickel bread and light pipe tobacco smoke then baked cinnamon apples, nectarines and slightly sour cherries that transitions to cloves, anise and light leather with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy orchard fruit that quickly veers towards a mild spice that slowly fades to butterscotch pudding, orange zest and moderate spearmint followed by charred pumpernickel bread and moderate pipe tobacco smoke then baked cinnamon apples, nectarines and candied lemon peel that transitions to cloves, fennel and espresso with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length starting with earthy spearmint and fennel seeds then sweet and mildly sour citrus before a mild tobacco smoke and light leather. I’m actually surprised at how well this turned out with those tobacco notes adding some additional flavors to a slightly sour rye that drinks older than I’d expected from just 4 years of aging. The smoke is mellow on the nose but really emerges on the taste and finish that is well balanced to not overpower those traditional rye flavors that kept pulling me in for another sip until the sample was sadly gone. At a price of around $70, I think this is well worth it for a unique and flavorful rye. Thanks @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington for the generous sample.