Mammoth 12 Year Borrowed Time Small Batch Rye

Rating: 16/23 Nose: The initial aroma is one of caramel sweetness. It's light but contains surprisingly rich Christmas notes of plum pudding and eggnog. Beyond that, there are clean, dry herbs and rye spice. Hints of candied apricots and lemon zest. I must commend its sweetness and absence of off-notes. This is a truly indulgent aroma, which is quite surprising given its relatively light character. Palate: A strong spiciness is present, with an underlying sweetness that is rich but not overwhelmingly full. It offers some caramel richness, and I definitely detect the creamy eggnog flavor. The spices become herbal and distinctly rye-forward, more so than many other drams. As I continue, I notice distinct notes of cinnamon and vanilla emerging. Perhaps hints of dark chocolate. There's more burn than I would prefer, especially considering the palate's light flavor, but it possesses an authentic rye character that few others achieve. Finish: It unfortunately becomes bitter. The spices persist, along with a long herbal flavor and traces of vanilla. The remaining bitterness, however, is not chocolatey or leathery; rather, it's a mild herbal taste with a vegetal hint. Essentially, an unpleasant bitterness. There are some faint hints of tropical fruit in the very long finish. - Conclusion - This is a very good example of a slowly-aged rye that emphasizes its rye identity. It fulfills its purpose well, but it is certainly challenging, and even after getting past the difficult aspects, it's not exceptionally enjoyable. This doesn't mean it's not pleasant to drink (it is), but there isn't a significant wow-factor beyond being a prime example of its type. I wouldn't rate it lower than a 15, but I don't see it reaching an 18. Compared side-by-side, this surpasses Pikesville (16/23) but faces stiff competition from Whistlepig Piggyback (16/23). I'd lean towards calling this a 17 rather than a 16, but for now, it remains another 16 rye.

I obtained this bottle of Maria's Mammoth 12 year rye on Christmas Eve. This is my second Mammoth bottle, but the first I have opened. I have a Smitty's rye from over a year ago that I haven't gotten around to yet, so I'm not sure what to anticipate. In the glass, it has a very light golden hue. If I didn't know better, I'd guess this was a Scotch or Irish whisky. It presents a sweet and delicate aroma. I do detect the rye, of course, but I believe I also get some of the malted barley. It wouldn't surprise me if this has more than the typical 3-5% barley in the mash bill. Up front on the palate, there's a bit of light caramel vanilla. Perhaps a hint of green apple peel. The rye becomes prominent in the middle, offering a really pleasant spice from the rye – it almost resembles red pepper flakes. On the finish, the pepper fades, leaving you with a lot of bright floral notes. I need to improve my palate regarding these flavors I can only describe as floral. It's similar to how I describe an IPA – tastes like drinking flowers. Overall, I enjoy this. It has a little more vanilla and caramel than some less expensive ryes. I suspect that's likely due to the age; 12 years is a good duration for some of the harsher flavors to mellow. I'm just a bit surprised by the color for such an aged whiskey. I'm definitely interested in comparing and contrasting it with my Smitty's Mammoth pick!

Warm baking spices and bread on the palate, with plenty of nice cinnamon. A touch of heat, but not too much. The finish is long, slick, and oily with classic rye characteristics. I really enjoy this offering from northern Michigan.

Nose - vanilla, lemon peel, light rye spice Palate - salted caramel on the first sip, nice rye spice and light pepper notes Finish - lingering spice, some dryness, light heat

This is among the finest Ryes I've encountered. It possesses a velvety texture, a robust body, and a zesty character. I will certainly be reaching for this rye often to add to my assortment.

Definitely banana nut bread with caramel, maple, or honey. Spicy, smooth, and sweet. A great rye.