What rye are you drinking or purchased 2024

[b1gcountry]

I've had both Rittenhouse rye and the rr single barrel select on the shelf for a while. I finally did a blind side by side last night. The results were petty clear cut... the standard bottle blew the private select barrel out of the water.

 

The select had an almost sour taste to it. The RRBIB was exactly what you expect. Slightly young, low rye, and that bit-o- honey Heaven Hill taste you sometimes get. 

[fishnbowljoe]

I don’t post here often cause I’m really not into ryes. However…… Again I’m not quite sure what me and a buddy poured tonight. I had a couple of sample bottles that another buddy refilled and gave back to me. IIRC, he said they were Whistle Pig 10. Regardless, it was pretty darned good.

[PaulO]

5 hours ago, b1gcountry said:

I've had both Rittenhouse rye and the rr single barrel select on the shelf for a while. I finally did a blind side by side last night. The results were petty clear cut... the standard bottle blew the private select barrel out of the water.

 

The select had an almost sour taste to it. The RRBIB was exactly what you expect. Slightly young, low rye, and that bit-o- honey Heaven Hill taste you sometimes get. 

I guess that's always a possibility with single barrel selections.  You could get something that deviates from profile, and not in a way that suits you.  My local store replaced the BIB on the shelf with single barrel (at a big price increase).  I'm one of those, remembers barrel picks at the same price as regular version, or a deal.

By and large, I find most single barrels to be close/hard to tell the difference from the batched version.  

[b1gcountry]

7 hours ago, PaulO said:

I guess that's always a possibility with single barrel selections.  You could get something that deviates from profile, and not in a way that suits you.  My local store replaced the BIB on the shelf with single barrel (at a big price increase).  I'm one of those, remembers barrel picks at the same price as regular version, or a deal.

By and large, I find most single barrels to be close/hard to tell the difference from the batched version.  

Yeah...I think for me, the 'uniqueness' might be less important than 'consistency' in a $20-30 everyday pour.

 

If I'm paying $100+, I'm more likely wanting 'unique'. For cocktail mixers and starting pours, I'm all about 'consistent' and 'dependable'.

[Skinsfan1311]

On 7/30/2024 at 4:52 AM, PaulO said:

I guess that's always a possibility with single barrel selections.  You could get something that deviates from profile, and not in a way that suits you.  My local store replaced the BIB on the shelf with single barrel (at a big price increase).  I'm one of those, remembers barrel picks at the same price as regular version, or a deal.

By and large, I find most single barrels to be close/hard to tell the difference from the batched version.  

I agree with this.

[markandrex]

Mail call from my son and fiancé in GA.

Amazing color and 134.25 proof at cask strength!  Unfortunately, an antibiotic series is going to forestall any opening/sampling for a week.

[flahute]

Just placed on order for the KC10yr rye. Will pick it up tomorrow.

[Anwalt]

Bought another few. I really, really like this. Better than the '23 M10R in fact. Pleasantly sweet finish.

 

 

[Mattk]

On 8/1/2024 at 6:09 PM, Anwalt said:

Bought another few. I really, really like this. Better than the '23 M10R in fact. Pleasantly sweet finish.

 

 

There can be quite a lot of sib variation on this. In general I'd agree that the toasted is very good, but IMO the best m10 is better then the best toasted. But this is comparable to comparing the best 2 birthdays you have ever had.

[Wedelstaedt]

Opened up this one tonight.  I am looking forward to what this one will bring. 
Happy FRyeday. 
 

Cheers

[Thomm]

On 8/1/2024 at 1:09 PM, markandrex said:

Mail call from my son and fiancé in GA.

Amazing color and 134.25 proof at cask strength!  Unfortunately, an antibiotic series is going to forestall any opening/sampling for a week.

I wish this stuff was distributed to a wider area.  Guess I better plan a trip to Georgia soon.

[Thomm]

Sagamore Spirit Double Oaked in the glass tonight.  This is my third visit to this bottle, and my impressions so far are favorable, even though this rye is very nearly one-dimensional.

On the nose, maple syrup jumps out to a commanding lead.  So much maple syrup.  Maybe a hint of sweet vanilla, but it has already been lapped twice by the maple syrup.  Are we certain this isn't double mapled rye?  You could say it's just me (and most people do), but this is the third go-round, and even MY sense of smell isn't that underdeveloped.  

On the palate, we are immediately inundated with the flavor of, you guessed it, maple syrup.  I'm not kidding.  There is a considerable char, some black coffee, leather, and other tannic, drying influences in the finish, but the maple syrup hangs on and coats the back of the tongue.  To my palate, at least, there is no baking spice, no mint, none of the traditional rye sensations one would expect.  

I like it.  I really do.  It's something I will gladly reach for as a dessert pour, but I'm just not getting the rye influence in this rye.  Did it spend too much time in oak?  Did I spend too much time in the sun?  I'm not sure about either, but I find myself with a strong hankering for a short stack right about now.  

If, by chance, you have experienced Sagamore Spirit Double Oaked Rye and your impressions are far afield of mine, I would love to hear about it.  Or, throw me a bone and tell me I'm spot on.  I'll take either one.

[Mattk]

19 hours ago, Thomm said:

Sagamore Spirit Double Oaked in the glass tonight.  This is my third visit to this bottle, and my impressions so far are favorable, even though this rye is very nearly one-dimensional.

On the nose, maple syrup jumps out to a commanding lead.  So much maple syrup.  Maybe a hint of sweet vanilla, but it has already been lapped twice by the maple syrup.  Are we certain this isn't double mapled rye?  You could say it's just me (and most people do), but this is the third go-round, and even MY sense of smell isn't that underdeveloped.  

On the palate, we are immediately inundated with the flavor of, you guessed it, maple syrup.  I'm not kidding.  There is a considerable char, some black coffee, leather, and other tannic, drying influences in the finish, but the maple syrup hangs on and coats the back of the tongue.  To my palate, at least, there is no baking spice, no mint, none of the traditional rye sensations one would expect.  

I like it.  I really do.  It's something I will gladly reach for as a dessert pour, but I'm just not getting the rye influence in this rye.  Did it spend too much time in oak?  Did I spend too much time in the sun?  I'm not sure about either, but I find myself with a strong hankering for a short stack right about now.  

If, by chance, you have experienced Sagamore Spirit Double Oaked Rye and your impressions are far afield of mine, I would love to hear about it.  Or, throw me a bone and tell me I'm spot on.  I'll take either one.

So I pretty much agree with your assessment. I love sagamore products, but the double oak is just too sweet for me. They have done it sweeter though. A local group recently did a private finish with cherry cordial and maple syrup barrels and although many around sang it's praises, I couldn't have more then a sip. My favorite sagamore bottles have been the 8 years, and their bib stuff. The sherry finish was also really good, but is definitely a time and place kind of pour.

[b1gcountry]

I picked up the 8-year new riff rye today. It's good. It's not amazing, but it's good. 

[markandrex]

Went out for a haircut….

[b1gcountry]

I opened a second bottle of rye today...

 

It has some of the old wild turkey funk that you don't get much lately. Lots of oak leather tobacco and citrus. Long finish.

 

Very understated sweet notes. Lots of baking / cinnamon spice mixed in with the oak. 

 

I also have to say, the bottle and the cork are very cool. 

[Skinsfan1311]

On 8/5/2024 at 6:13 PM, Mattk said:

So I pretty much agree with your assessment. I love sagamore products, but the double oak is just too sweet for me. They have done it sweeter though. A local group recently did a private finish with cherry cordial and maple syrup barrels and although many around sang it's praises, I couldn't have more then a sip. My favorite sagamore bottles have been the 8 years, and their bib stuff. The sherry finish was also really good, but is definitely a time and place kind of pour.

My sentiments,  exactly.

[smokinjoe]

37 minutes ago, b1gcountry said:

I opened a second bottle of rye today...

 

It has some of the old wild turkey funk that you don't get much lately. Lots of oak leather tobacco and citrus. Long finish.

 

Very understated sweet notes. Lots of baking / cinnamon spice mixed in with the oak. 

 

I also have to say, the bottle and the cork are very cool. 

I occasionally hear this term, “Wild Turkey Funk”.  What is that?

[b1gcountry]

2 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

I occasionally hear this term, “Wild Turkey Funk”.  What is that?

The older WT101 bottles used to have a distinct flavor to them. It is sort of an earthy top of pallette flavor. Some people call it blackberry, but that doesn't seem right to me. 

Edited August 7 by b1gcountry

[kcgumbohead]

I finished off a Piggyback rye and being a WP10 fan I was curious what this at 6 yr might bring. I can say I enjoyed each and every pour.

 

[Mattk]

17 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

I occasionally hear this term, “Wild Turkey Funk”.  What is that?

I understand that is from the cedar tanks days of Austin Nichols. It was an earthy cedar. Closest I've found in the last few years on a rye were in some willett distillate.

[fishnbowljoe]

 

I understand that is from the cedar tanks days of Austin Nichols. It was an earthy cedar. Closest I've found in the last few years on a rye were in some willett distillate.

Did you mean the cypress fermenting tanks @Mattk?

[Mattk]

10 minutes ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Did you mean the cypress fermenting tanks @Mattk?

Sorry if I got my woods mixed up. It is very hot here today.

[fishnbowljoe]

8 minutes ago, Mattk said:

Sorry if I got my woods mixed up. It is very hot here today.

“That’s what she said!”

[b1gcountry]

I had a small pour of triumph while watching the Olympic men's sport climbing final...it's better than my first pour.

 

Then the wife and I went out for drinks/dinner with friends, and I'm trying some Sagamore rye double oak. I'm not loving the Sagamore. It's moderately finished and that's not my favorite thing.