What Rye Are You Drinking? Summer 2013

[B.B. Babington]

friend kindly shared Willett 23 "Iron Fist" and it was awesome. My first taste of this stuff. Super excellent!

[tigerlam92]

friend kindly shared Willett 23 "Iron Fist" and it was awesome. My first taste of this stuff. Super excellent!

OMG. You have a great friend. That is an amazIng pour. Extremely hard to come by.

[B.B. Babington]

yes, a good friend. and that 23 is an amazing pour, awesome, and many other adjectives that begin with "a" ... and now we can start a list with words that begin with "b"

[GaryT]

Had an enjoyable blind 4-way with BMH 18yrs (barrels R70 & R77), Saz 18 (2011 release), and for kicks - Ritt BIB DSP-1. The color and nose quickly separated the Ritt from the rest, and grouped the two BMHs together. I definitely prefer the BMH over the Saz 18. The BMH has a more creamy mouthfeel, and seems to have a better balance between the fruit, spice and wood (at least for my palate). I actually found the Saz 18 to be too dry, and on the palate liked the Ritt BIB better (it wasn't more complex obviously, but I enjoyed it better). I was trying to determine if the BMH might be Saz juice or HH (which is why I included the Ritt), and it definitely is closer to the Ritt. I find that also has a more creamy mouthfeel than the Saz. Thankfully barrels R70 and R77 were virtually identical. I tasted them in different orders, and picked the second one I tasted each time After 4 rounds, I decided I couldn't pick between the two - both are excellent representations!

[whiskeyagonzo]

Sipping some Jeff rye. Great day for drinking.

[squire]

Great day for drinking.

Today, yes, as was yesterday and I have great expectations for tomorrow as well.

[whiskeyagonzo]

Today, yes, as was yesterday and I have great expectations for tomorrow as well.

You have got me there. Everyday is good for drinking some good bourbon and rye.

[WAINWRIGHT]

Some WTR101 and AE Rye shared with friends on this much cooler and glorious day,AE was seen as a novelty and the WTR was quite well received.I hate to admit I'm a big fan of the AE for its unique quality alone,great niche market pour indeed.

[bourbonfoot]

Had some Handy for the first time today. Really enjoyed it.

[KySalesRep]

Starting out with some THH today.

[theglobalguy]

Finishing off a bottle of HW Double Rye, and managed to buy a taste of HW21 Rye today. Hell of a kick, glad i tried, but not my thing. Too much bite.

[BFerguson]

Keeping it simple with some Baby Saz.

B

[ChainWhip]

A little tasting we put together tonight with LostBottle & Chris24:

I was surprised that I actually liked the Ritt23 - not as good as the Ritt21 but held its own.

Ritt order for me (favorite on down):

21=>23/25 (tied)

Hirsch order:

22=>21=>25

Between the Willett24's, 55% won over the 47%

Strangely, the Willett24's don't taste like Medley nor CoK to me - I wonder what the source of these ryes are?

[Trey Manthey]

CoK has a very unique taste.

[whiskeyagonzo]

Enjoying some Jeff Rye this fine evening. Damn tasty. Probably epic at CS.

[GaryT]

A little tasting we put together tonight with LostBottle & Chris24:

I was surprised that I actually liked the Ritt23 - not as good as the Ritt21 but held its own.

Ritt order for me (favorite on down):

21=>23/25 (tied)

Hirsch order:

22=>21=>25

Between the Willett24's, 55% won over the 47%

Strangely, the Willett24's don't taste like Medley nor CoK to me - I wonder what the source of these ryes are?

[GaryT]

Two pours of THH because . . . it's Friday! Damn this stuff is tasty :yum:

[LostBottle]

Holy sh!t - what a lineup!!

[theglobalguy]

Compared to the professionals above, i am a mere amateur....

Smooth Ambler 7yr Rye tonight.

[michaelturtle1]

Finished the remaining pour of a Hirsch 21 And then had a couple pours of Hirsch 22

[whiskeyagonzo]

Sipping some Jeff rye.

[squire]

Strangely, the Willett24's don't taste like Medley nor CoK to me - I wonder what the source of these ryes are?

[ChainWhip]

24 years in the original, new charred barrel can so change the character it's difficult to spot it's origins.

[squire]

Oh I wouldn't doubt that, my comment really applies to long barrel aging. I think for the most part Bourbon and ryes stay in their original barrels but even if they are rebarreled or consolidated I believe long aging creates a different character in the spirit.

The first time I tasted Elijah Craig 18 year old it occurred to me it had more in common with an old cognac than a younger, balanced Bourbon.

[ChainWhip]

Gotcha... Even so, I can taste the family resemblance in many of the rye verticals (different barrels and what not) we've been doing.

I will have to say that the Willett24/55% rye is my favorite aged rye that I've personally owned and opened to date.