Hand selected by (barrel name): Rye Me A River Proof: 115 ALC/VOL: 57.5% Selected: 10/14/24 Barrel: MC093 Much happiness was had during my most recent trip to Limestone Branch, which I'm glad remains my favorite distillery and continues to create new, obtainable products at a very healthy rate. I could never get past the incredibly prominent sherry flavors from classic Minor Case, so I was ecstatic to see they now not only have an unfinished version, but with quite the heavy 6 year age (proper rye shouldn't age much longer) and as a very high proof single barrel, at least for this selection. Of course, it's still an MGP product at the end of the day, the positive being that it's likely the magic 95/5 ratio, but the negative being that it will likely taste like every other MGP rye on the market. Not quite mahogany in color, but much more light brown than gold, and consistent hues throughout the glass. Speaking of the glass, the nose really jumps out of it, providing notes of powerful spearmint, cherries & berries, lemon zest, a great amount of sweet oak, and an unspecified earthiness/minerality. The proof is strong enough to make itself known, but 115 is right around the point where it scares off the casual drinker, although here repeated smelling seems to attribute the ethanol more to spice than overall burn. The initial flavor begins with a touch of the aforementioned berries and a little bit of a maltiness, before base flavors of baking spice and that spearmint really start to hammer in the powerful backend of that rye. The spice really stings through the gums this time around, although doesn't dig so deep that it doesn't go away after a reasonable amount of time. Having said that, the finish brings back a little of the fruitiness after things calm down, with an emphasis on banana and a touch of caramel sauce. With all the negative to observe in the American whiskey world, I am certainly grateful that MGP is still cranking out some of the best rye whiskey around, and is always consistent. This is one of the more spicy offerings, although isn't necessarily overpowering, and has a rounded balance with the sandwiching of fruit flavors. A nice looking bottle with slightly damaged/rubbed off painted embossed letters is also a plus, but I will definitely be on the lookout for new barrel selections on my return trips to this distillery/packager.