Detrick Straight Rye Whiskey

Drinking it neat from the neck pour. Go flyers! I gambled on this bottle from a local distillery because the label really caught my eye. It's 104 proof. This is a Four Grain Rye. The distillery was upfront about the barrel ages, which were a blend of 3, 4, 5, and 6 years. Seems like a good concept. The aroma is very vibrant and lively. I detect abundant lemon zest and blood orange, with a touch of ginger. A distinct vanilla note ties it all together. A subtle black pepper lurks in the background. As it sits, a toasty rye bread aroma, slathered in butter and citrus marmalade, begins to surface. It's actually deepening in character as I continue to sample it. A sweet butterscotch note is appearing. I'm enjoying it more as time goes on. My initial thought was that it was a standard craft whiskey, but taking the time to analyze it allowed its personality to come through. The texture is light even though it appears oily. It doesn't offer much flavor on the initial taste. A slight ginger sensation is present. The middle of the palate explodes with lemon zest, complemented by rye spice and pepper. The finish is where it gets wild. It continuously intensifies. It has a sensation akin to hot sauce. It even tastes peppery hot, and that oily texture lingers for an extended embrace. I discovered a surprising dark chocolate note on the finish too. Lemon zest, blood orange, ginger, and rye spice are all present on the finish. This is an unusual one to evaluate. It doesn't align with my typical preferences and left a poor initial impression, but dissecting it was quite enjoyable. It led me to explore unexpected flavor profiles. I believe it could have benefited from a little more sweetness. I'm curious to try it again and see if it evolves.

Butterscotch aroma with a faint hint of vanilla. Oak and the rye are more noticeable on the nose after a sip, deep and dark with a slight dryness.