What rye are you drinking or purchased 2024

[Special Reserve]

19 hours ago, Mattk said:

I was down in Virginia today. Not many stores had this on the website, but the one right near me did. At this point I'm a buyer for every ritt sib I come across. I've had over a dozen and all of them have been good to great.

A good value rye.

[markandrex]

Cross posted.

[Kepler]

3 hours ago, markandrex said:

Cross posted.

After enjoying all the early Master's Keep releases, I've cooled on the last several and have even passed at some of them at msrp.  This one has me interested again finally. Great snag!

[Mattk]

3 hours ago, markandrex said:

Cross posted.

I'm excited, knowing maryland distribution it will probably be a while before I see one

[smokinjoe]

Picked up this New Riff 6 yr Malted Rye today, and diving in to it back home after bringing it back from a whirlwind business driving trip to Tennessee.  

[Wedelstaedt]

Happy FRyeday, I’m having Sagamore BiB 5yr. 
Very good. 

Have a nice weekend, fellow SB’rs

 

Cheers

[0895]

I’ve been wanting to do this tasting for awhile.  Today’s the day apparently.

Kentucky Owl Rye batches 1-4 sbs.

 

I’m excited. Love this stuff!

 

[0895]

1 hour ago, 0895 said:

Kentucky Owl Rye batches 1-4 sbs.

 

Batch 1:  (11y, 110.6p)  Probably the overall winner of the group for me.  Definitely the most traditional rye taste of the lot.  Subtle baking spices up front.  A kiss of sweet fragile fruit in the middle.  Black pepper pop at the end, followed by oak.  Complex and exciting.  Very very nice!

 

Batch 4:  (10y, 112.8p). Second place for me.  Deciding where batch 3 & 4 ranked was hard, as I enjoyed them both.  Four edges out the second place win though with its complexity.  The fruit and spice balance each other perfectly in this release, and the proof is perfectly on point.  Dangerously easy to drink.  Sweet and fruity enough to please the bourbon folks, but the complex baking spice finish will win over the rye lovers.

I know this is still around on shelves….

arguably worth the price for a special treat bottle.  Go get one!

Batch 3:  (10y, 114p).  3rd place, but we’re splitting hairs with batch 4 here.  Highest proof of the bunch and it shows in the finish… but that fire is delightful.

Very rye grain forward, with mint and herbal spices up front.  Sweet corn for a moment in the middle.  A firm lingering hug at the end.  I know where there’s a couple of these left sitting on the shelf and it’s very hard for me not to go buy one immediately.

 

2:  (11y, 101.8p).  Last place.  More fruit forward, with very subtle baking spices on the back.  Long hug on the back of the tongue that lingers.  Lacks the complexity of the others.  It’s not really bad, it’s just the least interesting of the four, and suffers from being ignored due to its price point.  That being said, I haven’t seen any loitering on shelves.

[Kepler]

17 minutes ago, 0895 said:

Batch 1:  (11y, 110.6p)  Probably the overall winner of the group for me.  Definitely the most traditional rye taste of the lot.  Subtle baking spices up front.  A kiss of sweet fragile fruit in the middle.  Black pepper pop at the end, followed by oak.  Complex and exciting.  Very very nice!

 

Batch 4:  (10y, 112.8p). Second place for me.  Deciding where batch 3 & 4 ranked was hard, as I enjoyed them both.  Four edges out the second place win though with its complexity.  The fruit and spice balance each other perfectly in this release, and the proof is perfectly on point.  Dangerously easy to drink.  Sweet and fruity enough to please the bourbon folks, but the complex baking spice finish will win over the rye lovers.

I know this is still around on shelves….

arguably worth the price for a special treat bottle.  Go get one!

Batch 3:  (10y, 114p).  3rd place, but we’re splitting hairs with batch 4 here.  Highest proof of the bunch and it shows in the finish… but that fire is delightful.

Very rye grain forward, with mint and herbal spices up front.  Sweet corn for a moment in the middle.  A firm lingering hug at the end.  I know where there’s a couple of these left sitting on the shelf and it’s very hard for me not to go buy one immediately.

 

2:  (11y, 101.8p).  Last place.  More fruit forward, with very subtle baking spices on the back.  Long hug on the back of the tongue that lingers.  Lacks the complexity of the others.  It’s not really bad, it’s just the least interesting of the four, and suffers from being ignored due to its price point.  That being said, I haven’t seen any loitering on shelves.

 

Great comparison and tasting notes.  Very helpful, as I've never seen anyone compare them all directly.

[BottledInBond]

13 hours ago, 0895 said:

Batch 1:  (11y, 110.6p)  Probably the overall winner of the group for me.  Definitely the most traditional rye taste of the lot.  Subtle baking spices up front.  A kiss of sweet fragile fruit in the middle.  Black pepper pop at the end, followed by oak.  Complex and exciting.  Very very nice!

Those batch 1s were great. I bought up a bunch when they came out and were like $120. In hindsight that was a great value

[smokinjoe]

Baby Saz tasting delicious.

[Mattk]

Having a weekday pour. 138.2 on this bad boy. So far I think I like the lower proof bottles I've had a bit more. This one drinks a bit hot.

[markandrex]

I ran out this morning to pick up a few groceries and ran into these.  132.4 is a no question purchase.

[Skinsfan1311]

Happy Fryeday!

[Skinsfan1311]

Pikesville Rye in the glass....

[Kepler]

Fryeday crack!

 

 

 

[smokinjoe]

12 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Happy Fryeday!

How are you liking this bottle?  I bought one several years ago, and while I liked the idea of the whiskey that DH was/is chasing, my bottle did not catch my fancy.  Of course, it was an early release, so guessing more age and scale might make it better.  Come on!  Gimme a good review so I can go spend more money on whiskey!!

Of course, I’ll still spend more money on more whiskey, anyway.  But, you control if that will be on this whiskey…

[Skinsfan1311]

45 minutes ago, smokinjoe said:

How are you liking this bottle?  I bought one several years ago, and while I liked the idea of the whiskey that DH was/is chasing, my bottle did not catch my fancy.  Of course, it was an early release, so guessing more age and scale might make it better.  Come on!  Gimme a good review so I can go spend more money on whiskey!!

Of course, I’ll still spend more money on more whiskey, anyway.  But, you control if that will be on this whiskey…

I first bought Dad's Hat, a few years ago, because I hunt in PA and I like to try local whiskey's.  Everything is locally sourced, distilled and bottled in PA.  That said....the earlier ryes were a little young for my liking, but this older expression is very good.   I'm terrible at describing flavor profiles, but this one has a nice rye spice, drinks a little above it's proof and is kind fruity, (if that makes sense), in a good way. 

Is it $50.00 good?  I guess that's in the eye of the beholder.....as is the case with a lot of whiskey, there are better choices out there in that price range, but it does scratch an itch for a wonderful change of pace rye and I'll buy another when this is gone, when it goes on sale, of course!

 

So....should you buy a bottle?    Hell yes!    SB is full of enablers, and I'm one of them!

 

 

[BottledInBond]

I don’t follow stuff as closely these days. Have you guys tried this stuff? I’m not a fan of Bulleitt in general, but I am a fan of aged MGP rye in general. This being a 12 year age statement at least caught my attention

[Kepler]

3 hours ago, BottledInBond said:

I don’t follow stuff as closely these days. Have you guys tried this stuff? I’m not a fan of Bulleitt in general, but I am a fan of aged MGP rye in general. This being a 12 year age statement at least caught my attention

 

Yes I do like it and think it's a good value at $50.   Solidly recommended by me. 

I just did a quick sbs of it versus Redemption BP 10 yr rye.  It holds its own against the Redemption BP which is twice the price and had a 116 vs 92 proof advantage.  The Redemption BP has significantly better mouthfeel (understandably) and it shows less dill than the Bulleit 12.  

 

I'd buy another B12 at $50 for sure, despite the fact it has some of the dill note that I don't love, but its normally present in most all 95/5 MGP ryes.

 

Go get you one and let us know what you think of it.

 

[Kepler]

3 hours ago, BottledInBond said:

I don’t follow stuff as closely these days. Have you guys tried this stuff? I’m not a fan of Bulleitt in general, but I am a fan of aged MGP rye in general. This being a 12 year age statement at least caught my attention

 

 

8 minutes ago, Kepler said:

 

Yes I do like it and think it's a good value at $50.   Solidly recommended by me. 

I just did a quick sbs of it versus Redemption BP 10 yr rye.  It holds its own against the Redemption BP which is twice the price and had a 116 vs 92 proof advantage.  The Redemption BP has significantly better mouthfeel (understandably) and it shows less dill than the Bulleit 12.  

 

I'd buy another B12 at $50 for sure, despite the fact it has some of the dill note that I don't love, but its normally present in most all 95/5 MGP ryes.

 

Go get you one and let us know what you think of it.

 

 

Let me just add one more thing.  I think it would be more important to compare the Bulleit 12 against the standard Bulleit Rye (instead of the $100+  Redemption BP 10yr) but I don't have one on hand.  If anyone does, then the question will be "is the 12 year version worth the price versus the standard Bulleit?"  I can't say myself.

 

 

Edited June 30, 2024 by Kepler

[Thomm]

On 6/28/2024 at 8:45 PM, Kepler said:

Fryeday crack!

 

 

 

What are your first impressions?  I'm intrigued by the apricot brandy barrell finishing.  Does that influence come through noticeably?

I read some reviews on the TW website.  One in particular caught my eye.

The Grundler said, "Man, this is some dank juice!  Some spicy sweet notes, balanced, a little hot (in a good way).  Drop or two of water, and good to go.  This stuff slaps!"

I don't know if I can trust the Grundler.  Does this stuff truly slap?

[Kepler]

23 minutes ago, Thomm said:

What are your first impressions?  I'm intrigued by the apricot brandy barrell finishing.  Does that influence come through noticeably?

I read some reviews on the TW website.  One in particular caught my eye.

The Grundler said, "Man, this is some dank juice!  Some spicy sweet notes, balanced, a little hot (in a good way).  Drop or two of water, and good to go.  This stuff slaps!"

I don't know if I can trust the Grundler.  Does this stuff truly slap?

 

Haha, I'm not sure any of us can trust a Grundler on TW reviews, lol.

 

I too was intrigued by the apricot finishing as well as the many positive reviews this received when it was first released. I purchased this bottle back then so it has been sitting in my bunker for 2-3 years. Going by the tasting notes I always figured this might be a nice "summer whiskey," which is important to me since I live in Texas and the summers can be brutal so I'm always curious about something that sounds like it might fit the bill for me.

 

This whiskey is incredibly interesting and totally unique/different than anything I've ever tasted before.  It will take me some time to really get to know this whiskey, but I can share now that I'm not disappointed and I really love nosing this whiskey.  For me the huge spiciness was unexpected and makes the dram come across as too hot for my ideal liking.  I added some water which did open it up some, but did not really tame the spicy heat.  I want to try this next with an ice cube to see how it evolves as the ice melts and gradually dilutes the whiskey.

 

I want to let this bottle open up by drinking down the level to the shoulder and let it sit for awhile.  (I probably won't finish this bottle for another summer or two, going by normal consumption rate considering I have a lot of open bottles.)

 

Bottom line for me is that this is such a unique experience that if you are curious about it, then absolutely go ahead and pick one up for yourself. I think it will be a rewarding experience one way or another.  It's one of those bottles that will teach you something about your own palate.  I just can't in good faith provide specific recommendations because I haven't gotten a real hold on this one yet myself.

 

 

Edited June 30, 2024 by Kepler
typo

[Thomm]

3 minutes ago, Kepler said:

 

Haha, I'm not sure any of us can trust a Grundler on TW reviews, lol.

 

I too was intrigued by the apricot finishing as well as the many positive reviews this received when it was first released. I purchased this bottle back then so it has been sitting in my bunker for 2-3 years. Going by the tasting notes I always figured this might be a nice "summer whiskey," which is important to me since I live Texas and the summers can be brutal so I'm always curious about something that sounds like it might fit the bill for me.

 

This whiskey is incredibly interesting and totally unique/different than anything I've ever tasted before.  It will take me some time to really get to know this whiskey, but I can share now that I'm not disappointed and I really love nosing this whiskey.  For me the huge spiciness was unexpected and makes the dram come across as too hot for my ideal liking.  I added some water which did open it up some, but did not really tame the spicy heat.  I want to try this next with an ice cube to see how it evolves as the ice melts and gradually dilutes the whiskey.

 

I want to let this bottle open up by drinking down the level to the shoulder and let it sit for awhile.  (I probably won't finish this bottle for another summer or two, going by normal consumption rate considering I have a lot of open bottles.)

 

Bottom line for me is that this is such a unique experience that if you are curious about it, the absolutely go ahead and pick one up for yourself. I think it will be a rewarding experience one way or another.  It's one of those bottles that will teach you something about your own palate.  I just can't in good faith provide specific recommendations because I haven't gotten a real hold on this one yet myself.

 

It seems the TW reviews are somewhat useful, slapping notwithstanding.  Most of the non- Grundler reviews mentioned two of the things that stood out in your impressions.  Most said it had a marked, spicy heat and needed water or ice.  Most also said it was unlike anything else they had tried.  

 

[Kepler]

17 minutes ago, Thomm said:

It seems the TW reviews are somewhat useful, slapping notwithstanding.  Most of the non- Grundler reviews mentioned two of the things that stood out in your impressions.  Most said it had a marked, spicy heat and needed water or ice.  Most also said it was unlike anything else they had tried.  

 

 

Yep I'd agree with that. I personally suspect that the Canadian rye is the source of the excessive heat, but I want to explore it more over time.

 

Going back to your original question I realize now that I didn't answer your question about whether the apricot comes through very noticeably.  I would say yes absolutely the apricot is prevalent on the nose.  But much less so on the palate/taste.  One thing is does not taste like is an "apricot whiskey" if that makes sense.  It's too complex for that.   As for the finish .... tbd.  I still haven't unpacked this whiskey yet after only one tasting.

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2024 by Kepler