Leadslingers Fighting Spirit Rye

I didn't realize until checking the label, which depicts a U.S. Marine with an M1 Garand rifle ready in the Pacific during WWII, that this is produced in Oklahoma, and I'm a proud resident. They've truly excelled with this bottling. It's not just good; it's exceptional, especially considering the price point of $38.00. In fact, a longtime friend from Ireland, with extensive whiskey experience, was over for an evening and tried it – he ended up finishing half the bottle. The flavor is excellent, with no harshness on the palate, a smooth profile, some sweetness, and abundant character typical of a high-quality Rye. It's an outstanding bottle that can genuinely rival, and even surpass, many significantly more expensive whiskeys, not limited to just Ryes. In summary, I always keep both an open and an unopened bottle on hand. This is a permanent fixture in my collection.

Smell: Tasted just like Big Red gum. I genuinely couldn't distinguish between them. Taste: Incredibly smooth and sweet for a rye. To me, cinnamon and black tea are the main flavors. Aftertaste: Smooth again. Cinnamon and brown sugar (perhaps?). No intense burn. A decent spirit. I would never have guessed it was a rye in a blind tasting. Smooth and sweet. It's more of an after-dinner drink for me. Probably not an everyday choice, but it deserves a spot on any bar.

The aroma has a melon and Bazooka bubblegum character. The taste offers buttered popcorn, sour sweets, a hint of alcohol that resolves into a mildly sour conclusion. The lingering finish presents tart cherry and a metallic note, transitioning now to sliced red apples. I'm genuinely fond of this.

The aroma has a strong dill-like quality with some sweetness. The taste is rich, featuring dill, anise or black licorice, and green grass. The finish is brief but still distinctly dill-flavored. It's a solid rye, though it tastes a bit young overall. Locally made in Moore. A touch of water enhances the sweetness, but the dill notes remain prominent.

It was sweeter than anticipated. Very spicy, featuring cinnamon and a trace of molasses. It was smooth and generally pleasing, with minimal bite when consumed neat. On ice, it was almost luxuriously smooth. This was a fine, dependable choice made solely based on the name; I was pleased with it.

Rye notes are present, initially sweet, then spicy on the finish.