The rye market is so saturated with quality ryes (like Old Ezra, Jack Daniels Barrel Proof, Sagamore Spirit, Bardstown--just to name a few), the first emotion of tasting this rye was almost immediately regret that I didn't get the Russel's Reserve single barrel rye instead. Minty dill with a wood note similar to Jack Daniels actually that brings a burnt sugar taste. Unlike the depth of the JD though, this suffers from a faint ethanol note that cheapens the experience to match its price tag. It's still a good whiskey, but the bar has been raised. If that ethanol note can just go away after opening up...