Johnnie Walker Select Casks Rye Cask Finish

Nose: The rye character is unexpected. Doesn't resemble JW; I certainly wouldn't identify it blind. Notes of toffee, caramel, raw grain, ethanol, mint, herbal tea, medicinal hints, and some sweet corn. Palate: It does have a slight JW resemblance. A little fruity with toffee, caramel, buttered popcorn(?), vanilla, earthy tones, pine, mint, green tea, oak, barrel spice, and a noticeable biting heat. Finish: Hot cinnamon, chili pepper, rye grain, dried herbs, mint, a hint of that smooth JW profile emerges, earthy notes, tree bark, dried leaves, and a touch of stone fruit. I bought this spontaneously (with some useful suggestions from a friend on Discord) while traveling and visiting various stores. I managed to find a couple of nice, older bottles on that trip. This was one of them. A 10-Year JW (same age as Black, correct?) aged in virgin American oak, then finished in former rye casks. This is what the current High Rye JW aims to be. It's spicy, grainy, herbal, earthy – much like a good rye whiskey. It's less of a JW whisky, but the profile is present. It's interesting. I'd buy it again if I saw it. My understanding is that these were released only once, in 2016. I'm not completely sure if that's accurate, but the bottle's packaging certainly looked like it had been on the shelf for 7 years. A quick online search indicates it's still quite available, but I had never seen or heard of it before. Well, if you enjoy JW and rye (or perhaps the other way around), and you happen upon a bottle of this, it's a definite buy. ____________ Join an unofficial community on Discord. We discuss spirits (and other things) in real-time, serving as a great resource for each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together.

My initial thought was that this was merely a frivolous marketing ploy. And let's be clear: it certainly is a frivolous marketing ploy (I suspect JW has long utilized ex-rye barrels; they've just been treated as identical to ex-bourbon barrels--until now, when American whiskey has become a major commercial venture worth capitalizing on). However, it's also not a terrible little blend, and (contrary to my doubts) a bit of the spicy, herbal, "green" American rye character actually does come through. The aroma is vanilla, toffee, some intriguing funk (reminiscent of something I've experienced in Nikka whiskeys before), bubblegum, caramel, clove, light baking spice, mint. The taste is quite mellow, with vanilla, clove, some general fruitiness, and an herbaceous bite. A touch of dry wood that persists into the finish, along with some burnt caramels. We're not discussing a world-class whisky here, but the novelty, the semi-artisanal presentation (46% ABV, though chill-filtered), moderately reasonable price ($45 USD), and otherwise limited selection at many airport duty-free shops make it a fairly appealing choice for home enjoyment or as a gift. It bridges the gap between the American and Scotch whisky categories—the sweetness and herbaciousness of a bourbon/rye, the subtlety of a Scotch blend.

Aroma: Vanilla, toffee, fruit, and spice – pleasant but somewhat ordinary. Taste: Again, vanilla, toffee, fruit, and spice. Finish: Brief, yet smooth and polished. This spirit is very much like the less expensive Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Red Rye Finish blend. That one has a strong bourbon/rye character, especially on the palate, but while the concept is similar here, everything is refined to a superior level and the outcome is more understated. The budget Blender's Batch Rye more obviously shows bourbon/rye influence, particularly in its taste, and is priced such that it's a viable alternative to many bourbon, rye, and scotch blends suitable mostly or only for mixing. However, this spirit competes with names like Compass Box blends, Johnnie Walker Double Black, and Glen Grant 10 year old. It's a difficult market position, and at this price, there isn't much to recommend it. For a small increase in cost, you can acquire JW Green Label, and that's the real challenge – who would choose this over the other options? It's quite nice but too expensive for mixing, and it lacks the sophistication of a spirit one would prefer neat. "Good": 83/100 (3.5 stars)

Johnnie Walker Select Casks: Rye Cask Finish is a limited edition from Diageo that, unlike many of JW's recent offerings, carries an age statement (10 Years). Given the recent trend of hybrid releases (like Glenfiddich's 14-year-old bourbon-cask finished expression), I was curious to see how this would compare. The first thing that struck me upon nosing the glass was the very prominent rye whiskey notes. I'd be interested to know the duration of its finish in those rye casks, as they certainly make their presence felt. On the palate, the rye spices continue to dominate. There's also vanilla and caramel, and the finish delivers the expected Johnnie Walker sea-salt/maritime character. My guess is that the blend used had a lower proportion of Islay scotches, or perhaps the rye completely masked the peat notes. The interaction between the spicy rye and the aforementioned sea-salt note makes this a very fascinating hybrid expression. I enjoyed it! I'm wondering what Johnnie Walker's Select Casks range will offer next... perhaps a sherry or port cask finished version?

An initial whiff reveals bourbon-like notes (am I smelling Scotch?) of vanilla, corn, and rye, though they are faint. As it rests, the vanilla becomes stronger and more prominent. A mellow palate presents a peppery body with a hint of brown sugar or caramel sweetness. The rye notes are noticeable but not overwhelming, and quite pleasant. The sweetness fades, concluding with a warm, spicy sensation and a touch of oak. The rye reappears in the finish, offering a hint of spearmint. A delightful, easy-drinking spirit that adds a unique touch to Scotch. I've always favored Johnnie Walker, as it was my first and introductory Scotch brand, leading me into single malts. I hadn't been interested in their other whiskies because I felt the value wasn't there. However, they've done well with this one: 46% ABV, an age statement, its price, and quality make it a worthy addition to a collection. [$44][88/100][Opened: 4/3/16; 4/20/16]

While I'm not generally a big fan of rye whiskey, I was somewhat hesitant about purchasing this bottle. Rye spices are excessively strong (in my opinion) and truly prevent me from enjoying most American rye whiskeys. So, I decided to try this version of the JW Select because I hadn't experienced it before and it was reasonably priced ($40/750ml). Decent rye spice on the nose and palate, while remaining smooth on the finish. I believe it's a 10-year-old JW that was finished in ex-rye casks for only about a month. That was sufficient time to acquire what I consider an acceptable level of rye character. Good spice intensity that finishes smoothly and briefly. It lingers just long enough until you're ready for another taste. Solid overall and recommended. Cheers.