Open 3 months Nose - Ginger, mint, pine needle, dill, peppercorn medley, lemon oil, cinnamon, spiced black tea, caramel, and strong ethanol. Palate - Spicy and savory herbs, lemon peel, black pepper, pine needle, gingersnap cookie, light tobacco, and clove. Finish is medium-long with bitter, astringent rye and oak spices, citrus cleaner, black pepper, dried herbs, and significant ethanol bite. I thought I'd give this a second chance a few years after its release. It was difficult to find that first year, and now it's readily available for $60 at most stores I've visited in 2023. I bought it when it first arrived in NC amidst a lot of hype, and was let down by the bottle. Given how amazing the Rare Breed bourbon continues to be, I thought the rye would be better. Since its release, countless YouTube reviews continue to heap praise on the Rare Breed Rye, and I don't get it. It's not bad by any stretch, but at this price point it's one of the worst ryes I've had. It has a savory, velvety quality but lacks the sweetness of a low rye mashbill or higher aged rye. And it also lacks the spice and herbal punch of an MGP rye. I'll take a Knob Creek or Smooth Ambler pick every time over this.