Castle & Key Distillery, Restoration Kentucky Rye Whiskey, 2021, Batch 3, Bottle #17680, aged 3.5 years, 52.5% ABV, 105 proof. Tasted neat. On the nose, sweet grain, peanuts, and a little floral vanilla. Light copper color and strong coating legs in the glass. Sweet maple syrup, vanilla oak, ethanol blast, and then leather and dry tannins. A little earthy/funky (acidic and macerated "green," reminescent of the whiff of fresh horse apples), and there's an acridc dry puckering effect in the mouth. That earthyvfunk bumps up against the grain sweetness. Finish is tannic and grassy rye and light spice. Dry and then gone fairly quickly. An interesting 65% rye with corn and malted barley mashbill, but the acrid tannins dominate the flavor. Usually I don't mind that, but as a rye this leaves me cold. It's good, but I'm not as sold as the staff reviewer. Ice mellows the tannins, but also flattens the rye spice. The funk seems more pronounced. Finally, I'm not a fan of/or impressed by the HEAVY faceted bottle with a metal year plaque, band around the neck, and large stopper cover. Too much like a heavy decorative decanter, hard to handle and pour. I'd rather a more functional bottle because I'll be recycling this anyway. REALLY! Then refund me the extra $5 that bottle jacked the price to $46. Now the price is more in line.