Michter's US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye (2022 Release)

Fortunate to be experiencing this. My first barrel strength rye. It has a lovely amber hue and leaves attractive legs. I sampled it neat. The aroma is spicy, featuring notes of nutmeg, clove, spearmint, caramel, green apples, and black cherries. On the palate... wow, it's intensely hot at first, followed by a strong numbing sensation after the Kentucky chew and a prolonged, burning Kentucky hug. With subsequent sips, I detect spearmint, spice, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, and lemon zest, leaving a pleasant lingering heat that compels another sip. The finish is tangy and spicy. 😋… I will update this review after adding 3 drops of water. Stand by and enjoy the burnnnn

Nose: Cherry pastry and toasted oak. As it sits, it releases notes of milk chocolate. Palate: The excellent aroma carries through, with added spice on the finish. Finish: A wonderful finish. Sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Oaky, but not drying. This is an outstanding Kentucky Rye. Overall: Compared side-by-side with the 2021 Thomas Handy and tasted blind, this won 3 out of 3 times for me. It was perfect as is. This is my favorite Michter's barrel-proof rye from the last four years. It might have been an exceptional barrel, but absolutely, I loved this one!

Nose - rich, with notes of dates and dark rye spice. Taste - more dark fruit and caramel, rich and spicy with a bourbon-like character. The spiciness transitions into a lingering numbness that lasts over 20 seconds. This is an excellent rye, suitable for bourbon enthusiasts.

Aromas of sweet green grape, French toast, and grapefruit, with flavors of grapefruit, raw vanilla, and green grape. The finish is long with toasted green grape notes.

I'm not sure if a perfect rye exists, but this is unequivocally the finest Rye I've experienced.

Notes of cinnamon, caramel, spice, pepper, sweetness, graham cracker, honey, and black licorice.