Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof

It's great news that Catoctin Creek whiskies are now available in Canada. I appreciate seeing more American whiskeys appearing locally. I chose to sample the Cask Proof Roundstone Rye first, a single barrel 100% rye whiskey at 58% ABV. As I inhale this deep amber rye, I detect orange syrup, dried dates, and cloves alongside splintered wood. Closing my eyes and savoring this pour, I can envision an old woodworking shop. During the sip, a subtle sweetness emerges, leading to a pepper-petrol note in the mid-palate. It gradually fades into a pleasantly long, warming finish with notes of baking spices, cocoa dust, and lightly tannic oak. Catoctin Creek Cask Proof Rye improves nicely with a few drops of water. It holds up well to light dilution, and I'm keen to discover how their other expressions compare. 7.25/10

Nose: Maple syrup, Arnold Palmer effervescence, mixed berry jam, rye bread dough, wood polish, and youthful grain. Taste: Bright light lemon, oak tannins, full mouthfeel, Swedish Fish, drying spices. Finish: Spices, lemon, oak, oversteeped black tea, full mouthfeel but short finish. Swedish Fish again! Fun! Overall: I think the youth of this spirit is the greatest detractor from the overall experience. It tastes full of potential. Looking forward to great things from this distillery. I purchased this bottle after having tasted a friend's store pick which initially blew my socks off. If you purchase this in the immediate, I would recommend buying a special pick rather than the standard bottling. Good things are coming for Catoctin Creek.

Aroma - butterscotch hard candy, clove, cardamom, leather tobacco, black pepper, noticeable to high ethanol burn. Taste - butterscotch hard candy, rye spice (though less prominent than in other versions), cardamom, caramel, dry vanilla, leather, tobacco, noticeable to high alcohol bite, with a medium-length finish featuring butterscotch, tobacco, and tannic leather flavors. This is my preferred of the three, but only slightly. I believe their offerings will be more appealing once they can consistently release older spirits.

It smells and tastes dark and sweet. Very strong and spicy. Flavors of dates, figs, cloves, and molasses start deep and sweet with a long finish, but then it concludes with a slightly bitter aftertaste like burnt caramel or charred raisins, which detracts from the experience.

Reminds me of finished whiskey. The small barrel negatively impacts it. Notes of almost syrupy fruity cherry medicine and maple syrup. Personally, I find the syrupy quality unpleasant. Spice and earthy notes are still bright. I typically enjoy 100% rye, but I wouldn't suggest this one for the price.

This is among my favorite Ryes. Its distinctiveness and viscous mouthfeel are notable. To me, it presents a strong fruity flavor upfront, almost like sherry, with notes of currant at the end. It concludes with a very smooth finish. An absolute winner!