Proof: 108.4
Age: 15 years old
Distillery: Nelson Bros (MGP sourced)
Mashbill: 95/5
Price: 299.99
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Nose: Allspice, Almond, Blackcurrant, Dried Blackberry, Butterscotch, Cardamom, Cedar, Cherry Cola, Chocolate, Cloves, Ethanol, Fig, Floral, Hazelnut, Leather, Mint, Musty Oak, Nutmeg, Raisin, Sawdust, Tobacco, Vanilla
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Taste: Tannic/Oily mouthfeel. Dark Chocolate, Black Tea, Eucalyptus, Brown Sugar, Butterscotch, Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Fig, Floral, Grape, Molasses, Vanilla, Bitter Oak, Coffee, Earthy, Tobacco, Leather, Black Pepper, Cloves, Fennel, Licorice, Mint, Nutmeg, Rye.
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Finish: Long. Long, tannic, and freaking amazing. Lots of dried fruit, tobacco, dark chocolate, and a spice medley you could never achieve at home.
Dark chocolate covered raisin, mint, licorice, and bitter oak right at the front which transition into more traditional caramel, vanilla bean, nutmeg, and clove. Earthen notes dominate this profile with touches of spice and fruit. Leather, fennel, and eucalyptus are the baseline, showing the age of the rye, all while softly drying the palate with the rich, bold oak tannins and perfect touch of spice.
The finish ends with more traditional rye notes, accompanied with sweeter oak notes, but that delicious blend of tobacco, dried leather, and earthy tea/floral notes are a perfect end to such a glorious sip.
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Overall: This is damn near perfect. At barrel proof, this is right where it needs to be. Everything check the boxes and it could have gotten a perfect 10 if the fruit and spice notes had a touch better balance. This is a rye drinkers rye and an oak fan rye.
Bitter tannins, earthy, raisin, and heavy oak = everything Chad wants in a good rye.
Price point of $299.99 is a bit of a tough pill to swallow and that sits in the back of my head through my review breakdown. This isn’t something just everyone can get or afford, so I’m happy I’m able to try it.
This is BTAC quality (since that seems to be the standard in how to rate things that are extremely amazing) and I think warrants the price point. If I was near Nashville and had the money, I’d buy it in a heartbeat, maybe even 2.
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Rating: 8.9/10
Value Rating: 6/10
Total Score: 7.45/10
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