Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser Bottled in Bond Rye

The last complimentary taste from the fifth round. Achieving 25 reviews in under two months is demanding, but also an enjoyable experience. This time, it's a bourbon from a distillery I truly admire, Four Roses. This 2016 edition of their Limited Edition Small Batch is bottled at 55.6% ABV, which I assume is batch strength. It has a natural rusty orange color and is most likely not chill filtered. I was surprised to detect mint as the initial aroma. It's very floral for a bourbon, with honeysuckle and lavender. Orange peel with a light cinnamon. Then, suddenly, the cinnamon intensifies alongside toffee, caramel, and mocha. A hint of bubblegum is also present. Dry grass, brown sugar, and some green grapes appear unexpectedly. It wasn't precisely what I anticipated, but it's very pleasant nonetheless. A gentle oak greets the palate, along with some barrel char. It's again quite floral. Notes of apples, oranges, and even grapefruit. Toffee, a subtle butterscotch, cinnamon, and clove. Not nearly as complex as I had hoped, but still very good and quite drinkable neat. A medium-bodied mouthfeel that is dry. It coats the tongue more than the mouth. A lengthy finish with oak, lavender, and orange pith. Quite dry. Much milder than I expected. The single barrel version is significantly more potent at a lower 50% ABV. I can't get past how floral it was. A few drops of water subdued the floral notes and revealed more typical bourbon spices. Given its scarcity and high price, I must admit I'm not as impressed as my fellow SDT members were. It's good, and I enjoyed it, but I wasn't amazed. Nevertheless, I'm still assigning it a 4.25. Thanks to a friend for the sample. Cheers.

Taste - 2 oz Neat in a Glencairn glass, no water required Appearance: Reddish to pale amber, coating the glass with rich, slow-moving legs. Nose: Cherry, oak, buttery rye bread, and butterscotch. There's also some exceptionally delightful milk chocolate. Barely any hint of ethanol. Palate: A coating, buttery mouthfeel. You're immediately met with chocolate, some pleasant apple, and a cereal bar flavor upfront. Spicier notes emerge, confirming its quality as a rye. Subtle hints of dill and a touch of mint linger in the background, alongside nice oak, barrel char, and cherry pie topped with butterscotch. Finish is like an old friend, warm and welcoming. The buttery sensation you experienced initially is the same sensation that concludes the experience. It's superb. Overall: Firstly, I perceive almost none of the notes mentioned by the professional reviewer! Secondly, it ranks among the finest ryes I've encountered. I categorize it alongside expressions like a 6-year WFE, Cornerstone Rye, Michter's 10 Year, or certain Handy vintages. It strongly resembles the 2017 Handy, minus the earthiness. I had previously tried the introductory bottle - Roundstone Rye.....and disliked it intensely. It was thin, reminiscent of solvent, and just a failure. It took me a year to gather the nerve to try this at its $99.00 price point after Roundstone was so disappointing. I had a friend with whom I exchanged a bottle of Old Fitz for a Russell's 2002 who also works at Catoctin Creek. The nature of whiskey enthusiasts is that we enjoy discussing and sharing our preferences, both liked and disliked. During our exchange, we did just that. He gently persuaded me to try this one, and I am incredibly glad he did!

Nose: wow...such a peculiar aroma. It practically smells spoiled. I can't get past it. Like milk gone bad. I'm genuinely surprised. If they aimed for a distinctive nose, they certainly achieved it. Palate: intense rye. This is incredibly potent and grassy. It's like the double IPA of rye whiskeys, I'd say. At least it's not as offensive as the nose. This is truly wild. Finish: a metallic aftertaste. Overall: I'm undecided on whether to give this a positive or very negative review. While I'm not a massive rye enthusiast, I have enjoyed some excellent ones (M10, THH, even the Crown 16 year Rye). This one stands in its own category of rye, in my opinion. For the cost, I certainly don't love it. I'll have to revisit this after it's been open for a while. I'm curious to know if anyone else detects a strange nose on this, so please share!

The nose presents burnt sugar alongside rye grain, oak, and dark fruits. The palate reveals distinct rye spice with hints of orange peel and oak. The mouthfeel is spicy and buttery. The finish is lengthy, with a subtle note of pickle brine.

As someone who doesn't typically drink bourbon or rye, this completely amazed me – incredible flavors. Finding it is difficult; it's NoVa’s most poorly kept secret – an outstanding rye whiskey.

The rye spice is definitely present, but it follows a pleasant vanilla character. A dry, woody finish. A bit of a splurge, but I'd order another glass.