Been talking to my Dad and feeling a bit homesick, so I’m celebrating my home continent and switching to a rye whiskey this evening. I am trying FEW Rye because I heard good and not so good things about it. First, it is a fantastic teak oil color. The nose is a surprise for a rye whiskey that is 70% rye 20% corn and 10% malted barley. I thought it would be spicy, but the nose is very sweet, more similar to a bourbon. I definitely smell rye bread, green apple and nutmeg, but there is candied corn and demerara sugar as well. Wait a bit longer and there is unripe banana. In reality, this reminds me of Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. Really a surprise. This is bottled at 46,5% ABV so the mouth feel is robust and not watery, yet there is very little burn. I get a lot of green apple, some more nutmeg and rye, as well as some nice oak flavor. The finish is oak and a nice spicy taste that lingers on the tongue with a bit of fresh mint. If you are looking for a spicy rye whisky this is not for you. Seriously, it is much more like a bourbon. Luckily, I like bourbon.