So we’ve tried the baby version (90 proof), the grown up version (100 proof) and now like a Pokemon, Sazerac rye reaches its final form… Nose is vibrant and punchy with hot honey, golden apple, rye spice, caraway seed, mint, grass and pepper. Some earthy barnyard funk/mushroom came out after a while which I found interesting. Ethanol is there but hey, it’s 125 proof. Palate opens with the sweet side of rye offering more apple (a weird note for a rye but it’s there), cocoa, orange slice candy, and more hot honey. Flavors blast your tongue. Finish turns things toward the herbal with fennel, mint, dill, cinnamon, black pepper, and an oak which presents as slightly sour. Worth noting that the sweet notes from the palate still linger making this a delightful ride. That black pepper note definitely carries, making the finish quite long. Mouthfeel is full bodied and oily as fuck. I love this. I favor my ryes punchy and high proof so this really hit the mark for me. Is it the best rye I’ve ever tasted? Well no, but it’s certainly great. And that’s where I reveal that I paid $40 for this. $40??? Are you serious? When you factor in that this is literally half the price of almost every other rye of this quality on the market, it has to be a 5.0. It just has to be. I got this on mail order but if it ever hits shelves in my area it’s literally going to live in my cabinet forever. Yeah, it’s like that.