Observations for the 2-year-old, 100% Rye, Straight American Rye Whiskey, non chill-filtered, small batch, #44. Aromas: pencil shavings, dill, cumin, paprika, black pepper. Taste: dill and cumin on entry, cinnamon and toasted grainy rye in the middle, heather, kitchen sage, and salt, with barrel spice and hints of chocolate on a very extended finish. A four-stage flavor development when tasted properly. It's definitely an acquired preference (the pencil shavings and dill are very prominent on the nose and will certainly elicit a response!), but a distinctive and pleasing experience, in my opinion. The palate is far more harmonious than the nose, with cinnamon being the most noticeable note. It seems to require time to open up; initially, it appears to have no body, but that's not truly the case once it's had sufficient air. It has a substantial body for a two-year-old, a luxurious mouthfeel, neither astringent nor greasy. The pure Cascade water serves as an excellent base for the flavorful oils. High quality, but very much an acquired taste... the youngest and most unusual whiskey I have ever had. Considering the age, I would expect to see it priced at $20-$25 rather than $30 here in Bend, Oregon. This is an unbiased review. I suggest trying a dram first before purchasing a bottle; I'd say this could be considered the strong and pungent Islay of Ryes. High marks for complexity, clarity of notes, and a very long finish.
Crater Lake Rye
Whiskey Rye Oregon No age statement 40% ABV
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About this bottle
Bendistillery, situated in Bend, Oregon, has been producing a variety of spirits since 1996, with notable gin, vodka, and infused vodkas like hazelnut espresso. They now also present Crater Lake Rye Whiskey, a spirit that is non-chill filtered and aged for up to 12 months. Its mash bill consists of 95% rye and 5% barley. The whiskey's pale yellow-gold color in the glass is consistent with its youthful maturation.
How it tastes
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Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 14 parsed reviews.
This isn't your typical rye; it's more like a dessert wine or whiskey, and not in a good way. The toffee notes are immediate but taste like they're from garbage. It lacks the usual spice found in quality rye whiskey.
Aroma of spice and grass, slightly tart then spicy and alcoholic on the palate, and then it vanishes with a sugary aftertaste. Truly discordant, possibly a consequence of the 100% rye mashbill being unmanageable.
The aroma is pungent and herbaceous. The taste is classic rye, with ample richness and body allowing the spice to persist. Among the superior ryes I have sampled.
Spicy, botanical, and medicinal. I don't have much experience with ryes, so I lack a basis for comparison.
Unimpressive. Tastes like medicine and has an excessive, inappropriate oakiness.
8 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
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