Joined Sep 2003
9K Posts | 0+
Puerto Rico/NYC
I have tried this label's 14 and 16 year old bourbon. I flat out did not like the 16 year old and only liked the 14 year old marginally, although I will say it was good. I recently passed up an opportunity to purchase the 21 year old bourbon. It appears that this obscure line of whiskies specializes in the weird tasting and overpriced.
As for their 18 year old, 95 proof rye I can definitely say it was good. It was good enough to alter my Top Ten Rye List, although not good enough to crack the elite top four, although it did compete in my mind to a degree with the fourth spot.
What was good about this rye that I purchased for the "walk-out price" of $68.19 was that it has a tasty and complex flavor profile, but the flavors are somewhat muddled and the body is dull, lacking boldness. It appears that 18 years in the oak has smoothed it out so much it blew right past it's peak, if it ever had one.
This rye tastes like a mouthful of slightly spicy oak to start off rushing immediately into a muted blackberry taste, with perhaps a touch of maple syrup. The blackberry unfortunately doesn't come through bold and clear and is muddled by the taste of earthy notes, which are somewhat disappointing, although interesting. What's disappointing about the earth notes is the quick transcendence from the blackberry to the earth, without allowing the blackberry to clarify itself.
Would I buy it again? At that price maybe not, because I'd like to spend my time trying new ryes, which are rare enough without spending bucks like that on something that's really not great. As for my top three ryes, I'd spend the bucks any day, and the fourth is really special too, but I'll pass every now and then. The rest of the rye list is good, but dependent on the price. The best bang for the buck rye on my Top Ten is probably the No. 2, but a big IF you can find it. Nos. 6, 7, 8 are wonderful for the price, not outstanding or complex, top shelf style ryes, but tasty and a good bang for the buck.
2. Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 year old
3. The Classic Cask Single Batch 21 year old
4. Sazerac 18 year old
5. Black Maple Hill 18 year old
6. Old Overholt
7. Jim Beam Rye
8. Wild Turkey Rye
9. Hirsch Reserve 13 year old
10. Pikesville
As for their 18 year old, 95 proof rye I can definitely say it was good. It was good enough to alter my Top Ten Rye List, although not good enough to crack the elite top four, although it did compete in my mind to a degree with the fourth spot.
What was good about this rye that I purchased for the "walk-out price" of $68.19 was that it has a tasty and complex flavor profile, but the flavors are somewhat muddled and the body is dull, lacking boldness. It appears that 18 years in the oak has smoothed it out so much it blew right past it's peak, if it ever had one.
This rye tastes like a mouthful of slightly spicy oak to start off rushing immediately into a muted blackberry taste, with perhaps a touch of maple syrup. The blackberry unfortunately doesn't come through bold and clear and is muddled by the taste of earthy notes, which are somewhat disappointing, although interesting. What's disappointing about the earth notes is the quick transcendence from the blackberry to the earth, without allowing the blackberry to clarify itself.
Would I buy it again? At that price maybe not, because I'd like to spend my time trying new ryes, which are rare enough without spending bucks like that on something that's really not great. As for my top three ryes, I'd spend the bucks any day, and the fourth is really special too, but I'll pass every now and then. The rest of the rye list is good, but dependent on the price. The best bang for the buck rye on my Top Ten is probably the No. 2, but a big IF you can find it. Nos. 6, 7, 8 are wonderful for the price, not outstanding or complex, top shelf style ryes, but tasty and a good bang for the buck.
Top 10 Rye List
1. The Classic Cask Single Batch 22 year old2. Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 year old
3. The Classic Cask Single Batch 21 year old
4. Sazerac 18 year old
5. Black Maple Hill 18 year old
6. Old Overholt
7. Jim Beam Rye
8. Wild Turkey Rye
9. Hirsch Reserve 13 year old
10. Pikesville