I've had about 6 of the new riff single barrel rye's and they're all incredible unique and insanely good. So with that said they're all REALLY different, but hey lets do this. No real notes on this one, or even a note that it was a "pick" which is odd (labeling). I bought this from a store that LOVES to brag about store picks too. Anyway to the whisky. Nose - Cherry cough drops, massive caramel, oh a touch of red caramel apples, and way in the back there's a hint of rye spice. Taste - Red hots, oak, oh a huge amount of rye spice, maybe a green apple. Water being added gives off a bit of a waxy note which I rarely get in a bourbon or rye. The apple notes are a bit more red now and the red hots are gone. Lovely mouth feel, really complex, I know it's 4 years old and this isn't one of the better new Riff single Barrel Rye's but I'm fan boying on this one too. I'm not a rye guy but they're doing something special here. I'm going 2.75 on this one. 3.0 for me really is a special score and I want to avoid over using it. I've had a few of these that are easy 3.5's but this one isn't that for me. I'm debating a 3.0 and it's so close but I thought I'd go a bit conservative. If you like rye you'll like this one and I doubt the price is going to push you off. That said every new riff is SO different, I've never had a brand with so many differences barrel to barrel. I'm not a fan boy of their regular rye (can't recall if I reviewed it) but the single barrels just seem to be a hit after a hit with a few being stellar.