Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Cask Strength

Seelbachs Pick Nose - Bold dark fruits, apple cinnamon cherries, and vanilla frosting scents are all very pronounced. Smells like a candle. Palate - Exactly like the nose. The alcohol is very present at the back of the palate and lingers in the finish. Once your palate adjusts, though, watch out. It bursts with bubblegum rye, caramel, chocolate, plums, dark berries, vanilla frosting, and a touch of cinnamon. Incredibly intricate. Summary - Amazing aroma, taste, and finish. Thick and long-lasting. I had a Bookers Tagalong pour before this, and its finish was much shorter than this one. Some people might find the intensity of this spirit off-putting. It's very dark and rich with a noticeable alcohol presence. Nevertheless, this is a fantastic bottle that I would definitely hunt for again. It's remarkably distinctive, intense yet luxurious. The alcohol is strong but serves as a pleasant cue to sip slowly and savor.

Aroma features honey, graham cracker, brown sugar, cherry, cola, and hazelnut. The taste echoes the aroma, presenting exceptionally deep, bold, and rich flavors. While I lack a direct comparison for pumpernickel rye, this is a delightful, high-caliber whiskey. It justifies its cost and outperforms numerous pricier bottles.

From the 2020 batch, barrel 213. Nose: feels like rye bread, has a spearmint note, ethanol, caramel, some barrel char, butterscotch, and funnel cake. Palate: apple, tobacco, smokey, mint, vanilla, caramel, and rye spice. Finish: cinnamon, barrel char, a pretty sweet ending, a pleasant lingering warmth, with a touch of pumpernickel funk at the close.

Abundant spice but very little alcohol burn. Significant depth for such a young rye. Excellent!

Outstanding – truly exceptional.

A pleasant kick of spice.