10th Mountain Rye Whiskey

I'll start by saying I'm not a huge fan of rye. However, this is one of the more enjoyable ones I've sampled. The nose has subtle spices, nothing overwhelming but pleasant. The palate is very smooth and doesn't present like typical ryes. This must be due to the sweet corn they use. It's well-rounded and complex, and quite good for a young rye. I utilize the rating scale below. The distiller uses a 5-point scale, and I use a 10-point scale, but I'm sure you're not too inebriated to figure that out! 1. Awful - So bad I discarded it. 2. Poor - I would avoid consuming it. 3. Bad - Exhibits several flaws. 4. Below average - Not terrible, but there are many other options I'd prefer. 5. Good - Merely average. 6. Very Good - Superior to average. 7. Great - Significantly above average. 8. Excellent - In a class of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

From the distillery tasting room in Vail. Batch 52. Smells of warm rye spice. The mash bill, with 69% rye, starts with a sweet bubble gum flavor on the palate, then some cinnamon appears, followed by dill and pepper on the finish. The exhale has hints of chocolate and pecan. It has a full body; it's amazing what they can do by combining one, two, and three-year-old whiskey. A very smooth drink.

Visited the 10th Mountain tasting room in Vail Village after skiing in March 2024. Enjoyed the rye and purchased a bottle in Frisco. Excellent product; my initial impression was confirmed and I have no regrets about buying the bottle. It was not inexpensive, however. I believe it cost around $60? (Perhaps a Summit County price increase?).

It's quite good. It's just excessively thin. It could benefit from a higher proof. With 7% more alcohol, this could be a winner. I purchased the cask strength 'Birthday batch' at the distillery. It's a shame there were only 200 bottles available. My assumption is that's the best version. One day, I'll try it.

Straw color when poured. Smells of cinnamon. A little thin in the mouth. A slight spice and burn at the end. Very drinkable. The price reflects the branding and it doesn't compare to something like Rittenhouse or Russell's rye, but it was worth trying.

At 86 proof, I found this pleasantly easy to drink, but it lacks the strong rye spice I prefer. I detect a nice sweetness with vanilla and a hint of banana at the end.