Barrell Seagrass

NOSE 3.5 Smells like sugary cotton candy, a sugar cookie with strawberry icing, Twizzlers, and Hubba Bubba gum. PALATE 2.75 The multiple barrel finishes are very prominent, offering great flavors that steal the show instead of enhancing the traditional rye characteristics. Shaved coconut horchata leads into the bubble gum and strawberry icing sugar cookie notes from the nose. FINISH 2.25 Medium, a little thin. While the flavors on the nose and palate are strong and bold, the finish is a bit lacking. The taste fades while the heat from the 118 proof remains. VALUE 2.5 A uniquely finished rye for $75. It's not something I'd consistently reach for, but it's a bottle I'll consider when I want something tropical or a profile different from standard bourbon and ryes.

Smells like Jolly Ranchers, fruity bubble gum, fresh apricot, artificial grape, white pepper, orange peel, and clove, with minimal oak and a strong ethanol presence. Tastes like Runts and Jolly Ranchers. The initial taste is full of artificial fruit candies. Notes of apricot and grape jam, white pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, brown sugar, butterscotch, and spicy rye are present. The finish is medium-long with lingering apricot syrup, grape candy, rye spice, Red Hots, black pepper, and a strong ethanol bite. I finally tried this thanks to a friend. It's a solid drink, but I'm not sure the initial hype was warranted. Fortunately, it's widely available years after its release and can be found for around $80 in some places. If you enjoy this flavor profile, it's definitely worth picking up.

This whiskey consistently impresses me with each tasting. The aroma is wonderful if you prefer sweeter beverages. However, a neat pour delivers a significant spicy kick. It creates an interesting contrast in your perception (moving from the sweeter nose to the heat and spice of the rye), but it's delightful. It has a full body and is very complex. Enjoyable to drink. Adding a large ice cube mellows the heat and enhances the sweeter notes, without sacrificing any of the complexity. It's an expensive bottle, but it justifies the cost.

Grassy notes on the nose with some dankness in the background, blackberry with a hint of citrus. Quite a bit of burn on the nose that doesn't appear on the palate. Must be one of the most easy drinking cask strengths I've had. Easily. All sorts of fruit on the palate. It stays at the forefront with maple syrup lingering in the back. Apple appears with red licorice candy while the darker fruit notes remain mostly consistent throughout.

I received a sample of this without knowing what it was. Glassware: Glencairn, allowed to rest for 15 minutes. Appearance: Light to medium amber. Nose: Notes of bread, nuts, and honey are present. Palate: Black pepper and baking spices are the dominant flavors. Finish: It has a long duration with a moderate level of heat. With Water: Adding a few drops of water surprisingly increases the heat of the finish. Overall Score: 8/10 - The aroma is exceptional, and the subsequent taste is incredibly intricate. It's just a touch too peppery for my personal preference.

Neat - the nose has a lot of fruity sweetness. The apricot brandy is noticeable but not dominant or overwhelming. The palate has abundant fruity sweetness, not necessarily apricot, just fruit and sweetness. The finish also has that classic and expected rye spice that appears initially after sipping and lingers for a bit after swallowing.