Oregon Spirit Straight American Rye

Nose: notes of apple cider, spearmint, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, rye bread, clover honey, grape, sweet pipe tobacco, blossoms, wax, cooked apricot, peach, and other stewed orchard fruit, vanilla, with a noticeable ethanol sting. Palate: apple, apricot, spearmint, ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, honey, sharp rye, leather, tobacco, licorice, caramel, floral hints, a strong alcohol presence, with a medium-length, fiery conclusion of rye bread, spiced apple, and spearmint. This expression is significantly sweeter and more fruit-forward than other 100% ryes I have sampled, notably Whistlepig and New Riff (which contains 5% malted rye). Nevertheless, it possesses sufficient herbal spice to confirm its rye identity. The heat is subdued, though not necessarily balanced, by the sweet fruitiness. The aroma and taste present a wide spectrum of scents and flavors, encompassing nearly everything imaginable. A more refined spirit would seamlessly blend these opposing elements, but this one feels more like a collection of components than a unified whole. Despite this, it's not a poor rye by any means. It likely ranks slightly above average according to my scoring system. However, the significant issue is the cost. At $50 per bottle, it competes with spirits like New Riff, Pikesville, and High West Double Rye!, which are either superior (Pikesville and New Riff) or comparable in quality and considerably less expensive (High West Double Rye!) than this bottle. This concludes my exploration of the Oregon Spirit line. I found this brand more compelling than the other Total Wine house brands I have evaluated. In general, each of the three varieties (Bourbon, Wheat Whiskey, and Rye) has been average or slightly above average for me, but none can compete on price with other options available in the broader market.

I’m not enjoying this. It was discounted to $45, and I had a $5 credit at TW&M, so I took a chance. The aroma is overwhelmingly perfumed. There’s hardly any sweetness, but a good amount of spice. Fans of Filibuster Rye might like this, but if not, you might prefer something more recognized and rated if you’re spending around $50. To compare, I enjoy Pikesville Rye for a spicy, rich, and flavorful rye, and Woodinville for a rye that’s a bit less spicy but still rich and flavorful. For a milder rye, I like Sazerac. Rittenhouse and Old Forrester are my usual choices for a quality rye at a good price. I hope this comparison is useful, as I didn’t find much information on Oregon Spirit Rye when I looked.

Let it sit for about five minutes. Appearance: Light ocher with sunset colors, medium-thick legs on the sides. Aroma: Lively young rye notes, a slight plastic scent, apple pie, bing cherries, candle wax, and ethanol burning my nose. Taste: Oily mouthfeel, waxy aftertaste, apples and pears, abundant baking spices. Finish: A long finish that lasts, that waxy taste starts and stays, average rye.

Nose - distinct rye, earthy, spicy. This carries through to the taste. Taste - rye spice and baked goods, notes of green mint and grass, baking spices with sweetness, and oak barrel. It's 94 proof and drinks smoothly neat, with no burn, though you do feel the rye spice warmth. Finish - a lingering sweet spice for a medium finish. It's not overwhelmingly complex, but it's very enjoyable and a fine example of a rye.

An intense Rye Whiskey from Oregon aged for four years in American white oak barrels. It begins aromatically with notes of clove, cinnamon & honey; a spicy middle adds notes of rye, baking spices & ginger; concluding with a long & complex finish with a hint of oak. March 2018 / February 2019 / August 2022

This is a good whiskey for what it costs. At 90 proof, it's smooth and easy to drink. The mouthfeel is nice. The aroma has cinnamon, vanilla, and oak. The flavor has a bit of spice, cinnamon, cereal, and other baking spices. The finish was crisp with a pleasant vanilla note.