Lock Stock & Barrel Vatted Straight Rye

This is a blend of straight rye whiskies from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Alberta, aged 4-18 years, bottled at 50% ABV. The nose opens with rich butterscotch pudding, sautéed apples, and moderate spearmint, followed by fresh pumpernickel bread with whipped honey butter, then poached pears, lemongrass, and orange blossom. It finishes with black pepper, pine needles, light leather, and burning hickory wood, accompanied by a strong ethanol presence. The palate has a medium mouthfeel, beginning with butterscotch pudding, sautéed apples, and moderate spearmint, then a gradual spice fades into fresh pumpernickel bread with whipped honey butter and river stones. Caramelized pears, sour lemon candy, and orange zest follow, transitioning to black pepper, pine needles, leather, and burning hickory, with a high ethanol burn. The finish is medium length, featuring sautéed apples, sour lemon, spearmint, pumpernickel bread, leather, and polished mahogany. This is a very enjoyable rye, offering rich sweetness with a blend of creamy citrus, baked bread, light florals, and earthy rye. The flavors are quite bold, but it's marred by a slight sourness, moderate spice, and drinks hotter than its stated 50% ABV. At around $80, it appears to be a fair price for a quality rye. My sincere thanks to a friend for the generous sample.

The nose is subtle, complex, and sweet, with a scent profile leaning towards Canadian rye, though I couldn't be certain in a blind test. The palate is rich with complex and enjoyable flavors, surprisingly more like an American rye than the nose suggested, though I'd still hesitate to guess correctly blind. It performs impressively at 100 proof, showcasing significant oak. Subtle brown sugar and leather blend harmoniously with gentle baking spice and just the right amount of oak. I'm quite pleased with this blend. I would gladly purchase this again.

This is a genuine rye blend, a fusion of different rye styles, and would be an excellent starting point for someone new to rye. Nose: rye with baking spice, mild clove, and dill. Taste: very smooth, rye makes an impact with a slight plum-like dill, finishing with a pleasant spicy numbness. I actually compared this directly to Lock 16, which was a mistake. 16 is simply too good; I had to set it aside and take a break to appreciate the vatted again.

The aroma immediately presents mint and brown sugar, with subtle cereal undertones. On the palate, mint and dill are prominent, alongside a pleasant malty funk, reminiscent of Jamaican funk. Clove and cinnamon emerge towards the end of the palate, accompanied by rich brown sugar and vanilla. The texture is smooth and velvety, leading to a medium-length finish.

Aroma: buttery biscuit initially. Cinnamon, clove, and vanilla are forward. The finish presents orange rind, pepper, and leather.

An excellent blend with a full mouthfeel and abundant flavor. Notes of toffee and tobacco are present, culminating in a lengthy finish. Highly recommended if you can find it!