Copper Fox Original Rye Whiskey

Nose: Smoked herbal notes, anise, clove, apple, dill, caramel, dry vanilla, mint, white pepper, black cherry, orange, with a mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste: Bitter herbal notes, dill, rubber, anise, clove, black pepper, salted caramel, sour apple, spearmint, ginger, with a moderate alcohol bite. The finish is medium-short with spearmint, anise, and bitter herbal flavors. Wow, this is an unusual rye. I've never encountered anything quite like it. The nose is vegetal, herbal, and smoky, reminiscent of burning fresh cooking herbs. It's quite dry and astringent, though some fruit notes like apple and black cherry with a hint of orange can be detected. The palate is equally jarring. Was this aged in a first-fill pickle barrel? Dill is abundant. It's also minty, salty, and possibly even rubbery or fishy. Who knows. I'm venturing into uncharted flavor territory. This is a challenging one to rate. There's significant complexity, which adds to the intrigue. However, in the end, it's a bit thin, bright, bitter, sour, and has some unpleasant off-notes. Nevertheless, it's really interesting to be able to try such a unique whiskey. Many thanks to a friend for providing the sample!

Intense smoke is immediately present. It makes me question if this is a Virginia Rye or an Islay Scotch. The smoke, resulting from an applewood and cherrywood fire, is distinctive. The aroma presents an oaky smoke with hints of vanilla, chestnuts, paprika, and spice. Oak is also prominent on the palate. This spirit is clearly young. It leans more dry than sweet. The taste includes subtle vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, but a strong oaky finish persists. It's remarkably smooth, silky, and well-balanced for its 45% ABV. This is a truly distinctive whiskey. I'm hopeful they have substantial quantities aging. This whiskey would be exceptional with a few more years of maturation.

Copper Fox is known for using applewood chips in their production. That's precisely what you experience with this distinctive rye - a mouth full of sweet apples. The aroma carries ample vanilla and a deep smoke that persists through the finish. I wasn't initially impressed, but I must admit it has grown on me somewhat, primarily due to its uniqueness. Try it as an old-fashioned. I commend Copper Fox for venturing off the usual path, though there's still room for improvement.

The color is polished brass, and thin, watery legs descend the glass. I perceive the aroma as youthful, with an unusual funk. Specific scents include tart fruit, damp earth, wet foliage, dry corn, faint smoky incense, and wood polish. The taste is generally sour with a light body, featuring notes of scorched caramel, breakfast cereal, artificial fruit flavoring, and woody astringency. The subtle finish has moderate duration. Salud!

AROMA ----------- -candied cherries. Reminds me of the red chocolate cherries my mother-in-law prepared at Christmas. Smells identical. TASTE ----------- -pleasant texture, very smooth. -the flavors are quite distinct from the aroma. -here's something new...angel food cake NOTES ----------- -this is an enjoyable rye. I anticipated cherry throughout, but the varied tasting notes were interesting. I approve. I'd be happy to drink this again.

I was genuinely surprised by this. Great flavors overall with a significant amount of fruit. Apple, I believe, stands out. I'm still developing my palate. The one unusual aspect is that the smoky taste seems a bit off. It's akin to pork shoulder cooked in a slow cooker with liquid smoke; it's still enjoyable but not quite the same as if it were smoked conventionally. Just my opinion.