Koval Single Barrel Rye

The nose offers herbal and spicy notes. The taste is sweet, featuring baked apple and caramel, with hints of chocolate and peppermint on the finish that seem to refresh the palate for the next taste. It also has some spicy qualities similar to bourbon, but without the usual harshness, which is agreeable. Overall, an excellent bottle that I'd buy again for myself or as a gift for a friend.

This rye stands out from others available, and it's a positive difference. It leads with abundant caramel and butterscotch, yet retains a good rye spice and some woody undertones. A fine sipping rye that, while slightly mellowed to resemble bourbon, still distinctly tastes like rye from Koval for a change.

Perhaps not to my taste. It smells of leather, metal, and polished wood (or a cleaning product), evoking a dentist's office. The flavor is smooth and spicy, with a mild finish. The oakiness is quite dominant, overshadowing other nuances on my palate.

I sampled this over two nights to allow it to breathe, but I believe I preferred it right after opening. It has a rye-like woody ethanol aroma, a little sweetness, and hints of cherry and maple syrup. It's not bad, but I wouldn't seek out another sample. It costs nearly $80 USD here in New Zealand.

Nose: Acetone and pepper. Taste: Rye, pepper, oak. Texture and finish: Silky and hot in the mouth. The finish is spicy with a hint of sweetness at the end, similar to all-bran cereal.

Don't rush this. I was convinced I liked the millet better, but that's changed. It's intricate and really well-balanced. Notes of herbal rye like dill and mint mingle with expected oak/bourbon sweetness, finishing with pleasant chocolate.