Bardstown released a rye? Just take my money. Rye, as we all know, is superior to bourbon. There’s so much more depth and complexity when that rye makes up the majority of the mash bill. Bardstown, as we all know, is the shit. Their pricing is controversial, especially if you look under the hood too critically with that whole “what’s in the juice” mindset. For example, this blended rye, is a blend of 6-7 year old 95% Indiana rye and 12 year old 100% Canadian corn whisky being sold for $150-200. That sounds steep, but I feel Bardstown is perfectly priced for market demand. Nobody is lining up, entering lotteries, or giving sexual favors to liquor store owners for these special releases; but they do sell out within a few weeks where I’m at. People who are looking for something unique and tasty, not necessarily people who want the same old bourbon and rye notes over and over, just know to grab these Bardstown special releases. So, for this release, Bardstown teams up with a cooperage in West Virginia, and they used cherry wood charred with infrared lasers, because fire is just so uncivilized. You would expect that such fancy technology to deliver a sterile, precise rye, but this is a dirty dram. There are so many interesting notes here that go beyond the standard rye. There is an immediate warm and inviting fragrance of baking a cake. Like so many good ryes, it feels like Christmas! But then, oh wait, there are deeper layers that are a little briny, a little funky, a little earthy. Very few North American whiskies have me nosing the glass like a good Scotch. The palate is why Bardstown can charge a premium. Don’t ask what’s in the juice; just taste the juice. There is just impeccable balance and bravado to this blend. The fruitiness is big; the cherries are there. There is a lot of sweetness, but it’s countered by big smoky woodiness. The rye spices are there, but they are not trying to steal the show. The mouthfeel is oily and creamy, more so than any rye I’ve tasted. Who knew that a little bit Canadian corn whiskey is exactly what a rye needs to take it to the next level? Alternatives: More affordable and easier to find: Stellum Rye ($50-60). If you want to know what blended Indiana rye can do for you if a no frills delicious presentation, you can’t go wrong with this. More extravagant and harder to find: Kentucky Owl 10 year old straight rye batch #3 ($200-250). If you can still find this bottle, it’s worth the money. Whereas, this Bardstown rye will give you things to talk about as you sip with your whiskey buddy; there’s not much to say about this Kentucky Owl – it’s just curl-your-toes delicious.