Goodridge & Williams 100% Rye

Acquired this along with their Western Grains variety on discount. The producer's website indicates they are no longer making the 100% rye, so I decided to give it a try. Smell: Typical Canadian whisky notes. Caramel, maple, and spicy rye bread. It smells somewhat young, but not unpleasantly so. Taste: Thin mouthfeel, smooth initially, but the burn intensifies as you drink it. There's a peculiar, slightly unpleasant flavor, almost like pencil eraser, which is prominent at first but thankfully recedes. Other grain notes are present, but the overall taste is underwhelming following that initial smell. Finish: It improves on the finish, with a medium duration and some pleasant apple, wood, and grain notes that linger. This is the first drink where I've noticed such a significant difference between the smell and finish (strong) versus the taste (harsh and unbalanced). Couldn't finish it straight, so I mixed it with ginger ale and ice. It's improved, but that strange bitter taste persists. I suppose this is why it was discontinued and put on sale! Hoping the western grains will be better!