Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller's Edition 92 Proof

Taste: Sampled neat in a glen cairn glass, then with 3 drops of water. Nose (2.5/5): Very sweet and doughy. Almost medicinal and pungent. Highly yeasty and fruity. The aroma was somewhat off-putting. Palate (3.25/5): Bready and sweet with some rye and a hint of marshmallow. Some candy corn appears on the finish. Better than the aroma, but not my preferred rye whiskey. Finish (2.0/5): Some spice emerges, but the sweetness from the aroma dominates the finish. The fruity yeast is overwhelming. It reminds me of a pizza place. Overall: I was disappointed overall. Excessively sweet, almost to a medicinal degree on the nose. The taste was somewhat improved but still too yeasty.

My bottle indicates it's a single barrel. While not the absolute best rye I've ever had, it's definitely among the top tier. It's a 100% rye, organic, and distilled in a copper pot. The aroma is like yeasty bread dough. The texture is silky, almost oily. My initial sip felt a bit sharp, but this has not continued with subsequent pours. This rye has a sweetness, and the mint/licorice characteristic of high-rye content is present, though subdued. I believe the silky texture and the muted rye notes are due to the pot still distillation. Overall, this is a very good and enjoyable dram.

Nose: Strong dill, peaches, vanilla, and faint hay/earth. Anise and dill combine to create a rye bread scent. Very subtle chocolate and apple on the nose. Taste: A very thin and watery opening of earthy hay that gradually transforms into strong rye spice and caramel, with a sharp dill and menthol finish. Adding water enhances everything. Light toffee and caramel-coated peaches with mint and dill, the earthy hay note recedes towards the end, leading to a spicy conclusion. Perhaps it requires more time in the bottle, but it's somewhat disappointing, at least to my palate. It might serve well as a cocktail base.

Nose: Chocolate, spice, window putty, hairspray, chocolate chip cookies Palate: Chocolate, popcorn, golden syrup, light spice - ginger. Nutty and aromatic Finish: Medium-long finish. Citrus, green apple, dried fruit, herbal. Cocoa, butter, and vanilla in the aftertaste. This is a chocolatey and aromatic rye. Smooth and velvety texture. The 100% rye contributes darker notes to the herbal spiciness. A satisfactory dram!

Nose - pronounced clove and other rye spices, cardamom, leather, tobacco, honey, lemon zest, and a moderate alcohol burn. Palate - very spice-forward, with leather, tobacco, cardamom, a noticeable alcohol presence, and a quick finish of young ethanol and clove flavors. Surprisingly, I prefer this less than the standard 80 proof version. Its increased spiciness seems to highlight its youthfulness.

On the nose: it's sweet and syrupy, with butterscotch, cherries, vanilla, and some yeasty rye notes. On the palate: it's a cherry bomb of a rye, with vanilla and cherry chocolate flavors. On the finish: it's thin but not disappointing, with some lingering spice to hold your attention. Overall: I like this. I would drink it if offered, but I wouldn't seek it out. I paid too much for it at a whiskey bar, but it was worth exploring the brand.