High n' Wicked 5 Year Kentucky Straight Rye

On the nose, we detect caraway seed, rye spice, thyme, vanilla, fresh linen, and a hint of juniper berry. It's difficult to categorize as strictly sweet or herbal; perhaps a "savory" aroma? The ethanol presence is extremely minimal. The palate is... quite unusual for a rye. It exhibits gin-like characteristics with prevalent coriander and cardamom, alongside some orange peel. Vanilla and graham cracker notes are present underneath, but require some effort to discern. There are no off-putting flavors, but what truly stands out is its blandness; where is the sweet richness or peppery spice? It also lacks sufficient herbaceous notes to be distinctive in that category, and there's no significant wood influence. The finish is exceptionally clean, with generic berry notes, more coriander, and an earthy, mossy character. The finish is brief and dry, and the mouthfeel is light. I believe this is produced by New Riff, and based on that, I anticipated a higher quality. Its blandness, lack of richness, and somewhat peculiar flavor profile make it a miss for me. It's as if a quality rye had all its defining characteristics removed. At $70, its value proposition is questionable. It's not something I would repurchase. Disappointing.

Appearance: light copper color with sticky legs. Nose: Exhibits a sweet, funky aroma. I detect notes of licorice, Juicy Fruit gum, mint, some faint caramel, vanilla, and clove. Palate: Offers a wealth of flavor, well-balanced. Sweet peach flavors appear upfront, followed by some peppery spice. Sweet caramel is present throughout, along with sweet wood notes. The finish is semi-dry, with the caramel and spice lingering for a bit. A subtle hint of the sweet wood remains the longest. Overall: I enjoyed this quite a bit. It presents a complex experience. It requires time to discern the flavors, as they are somewhat blended together. It possesses a fantastic caramel bourbon characteristic, as well as a wonderful sweet and spicy quality typically found in rye.

Nose: It presents as one of those subtly sweet ryes. Vanilla, caramel, and barrel spices with that hint of sweetness. Palate: Vanilla and caramel with brown sugar and rye spices. It's subtle and really good. Finish: It lingers without any harshness. A fantastic sipper whiskey. An easy drinker. Overall: It's good. It's not remarkable, but if offered a pour, I wouldn't refuse. A solid rye. I revisited it after trying it some months ago and was pleasantly surprised.

Buttery and caramel followed by spicy rye. Not overpowering. Flavorful.