NULU Toasted Single Barrel Rye

It seems like everyone is experimenting with toasted barrels lately. Nulu took a slightly different route by toasting a Rye. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this concept, but it's a bit unusual, and I'm always willing to try something different. This particular bottle is an A&B store pick. The aroma is typical for a rye in this pour. I suppose I was anticipating something more, but unfortunately, it's quite standard. The first sip reveals a smooth rye foundation, with hints of sweetness, perhaps even cherries around the edges. Just as these notes begin to become interesting, a strong peppery burn overwhelms everything, leaving a pronounced, heavy burn in the finish that isn't particularly pleasant. By the time the burn subsides, there's nothing special left on the palate. Overall, I'm disappointed with this bottle. I also purchased a Nulu straight bourbon that I'll review later, which was significantly better. This could have been a complex sipper to enjoy, but the harsh burn ruins it. I would suggest skipping Nulu's Ryes altogether and sticking with their Bourbons. Considering the price point, this is not a recommended purchase.

A vegetal scent of eucalyptus or mint, followed by a prominent toasted butterscotch and a subtle cacao aroma. The taste is intensely chocolate mint with a very rounded vanilla note. There's also a hint of roasted butternut squash and what I believe to be toasted coconut. I found a comparison to butternut soup with coconut milk; it aligns well. A very small amount of spice emerges at the end, less than one might expect from a high-proof rye. For the finish, white pepper appears first, then toasted grain, mint, and chocolate, followed by a long vanilla note. The vanilla and mint linger prominently on the very long finish, with an underlying note of burnt orange zest. Among my collection of over 350 bourbons, this is by far the most complex. I need to acquire more.

I mentioned to my wife that my rye supply was getting low, so she bought me a couple of store picks on her last trip out of state. She's a great partner, and this bottle she chose is also a keeper. It's a Nulu single barrel toasted rye, a pick from The Bottle Shop in Columbus, GA, bottled at 117.2 proof, made from 6-year-old MGP distillate and finished in toasted oak casks. The aroma is maple syrup; it's sweet and spicy. There's a maple and toasted marshmallow sweetness, with a hint of lemongrass tang. It's rich and viscous with the peppery finish expected from a good rye. It bears a slight resemblance to Angel's Envy rum cask rye, but it's less sweet and has much more impact. I believe this will be an enjoyable bottle.

Smells like grapes and cherries, with black pepper, leather, finished wood, corn, and vanilla cream with orange peel. It's quite intriguing, with complexity beyond the average. I'm uncertain what to anticipate, but I don't detect a lot of rye. Tastes surprisingly good. Loads of molasses and brown sugar. It's very dessert-like. The sugary notes eventually give way to chocolate-covered oranges, with a touch of cinnamon to balance the sweetness. Once again, the rye is very understated. This must be a low rye mashbill. I don't pick up much of it on the palate either. The mouthfeel is decent. I'd say it's more suited for bourbon enthusiasts who dabble in rye.

Second pour at the big game event. This pour is a very deep brown. It needs a few minutes to reveal its aromas, offering abundant caramel and nutmeg, presenting more like a high-rye bourbon than a typical rye. This is likely a result of the toasted barrel treatment. The taste is perplexing. It has sweet caramel and cinnamon candy, corn syrup, and black pepper. The texture is pleasing, but the tastes are scattered and unbalanced. I'm pleased I did not purchase this bottle.

I enjoy a good rye with that dark bourbon flavor and a pleasant burn in the throat. But toasting it, I'm not sure. You get a buttery, grape-like taste going in, but as soon as it reaches the throat, the peppery toasted aspect burns that flavor away, leaving a taste of burnt ash. It's just not smooth enough.