This rye appears to be very popular with a certain crowd. It's a single barrel rye from a small New Mexico distillery, under a revived 19th-century brand whose founder died in the Taos Revolt of 1847, and named after a distillery worker (Albert) who fought in a siege during that revolt. This rye is five years old, putting it in a similar age category to Sazerac. I also detect a very similar profile to Sazerac in both the aroma and taste: scents of coffee alongside a distinct rye foundation; pears, pineapple, ample rye spice, and that solvent-like impression; and a smooth finish that is predominantly sweet and less spicy, with a substantial mouthfeel of bread and grain. It costs $60 a bottle, making it pricey for a rye, but it's worth sampling.
John David Albert's Taos Lightning Single Barrel Straight Rye 5 Year
Whiskey Rye New Mexico 5 Year 45% ABV
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About this bottle
The Taos Lightning brand, initially established by Simon Turley in 1820 at Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, gained recognition among frontier inhabitants. John David Albert, a distillery employee, was among those who defended the distillery during a siege that occurred amid the Taos Pueblo Revolt, an event that resulted in Turley's death and the brand's discontinuation. KGB Spirits has since revived the label. This rye whiskey features a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% wheat. It undergoes a minimum of 5 years of maturation in a high-altitude warehouse in a dry environment, subject to the influences of the surrounding conditions.
How it tastes
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Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 6 parsed reviews.
I agree with a previous comment about hipster catnip. And, just like hipster catnip, this is a bunch of nothing. This does not compare favorably to Sazerac and it’s twice the price. I’m a NM native and the marketing got me.
Strong spirit. A bit sharp on the palate. Notes of cinnamon. Enjoyed at La Choza in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Full-bodied flavor, with spice and sweetness, and a smooth profile. It's definitely overlooked.
Great flavor, smooth, not overly sweet.
Features honey and spice. Good neat.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
