Peerless Kentucky Straight Rye (24 Months)

The nose is robust, with a significant wood presence and some unexpected savory notes. It doesn't present as fruity or otherwise sweet. The savory aspect carries hints of cooked beef and damp (but not musty) cardboard. It smells substantial and bold, though not entirely pleasant. The palate tastes lighter and less mature than anticipated. There are some enjoyable rich, bitter flavors, but they don't mask the immaturity. A really nice and pervasive bittersweet cocoa is present, but there's also some cardboard that approaches the sawdust quality of a certain bourbon due to the added brown sugar. I appreciate the greater complexity here compared to that bourbon, but it still feels somewhat harsh and disjointed. It's considerably sweeter than the aroma suggests, yet possesses youth and a corn-like character. It's an especially good young whiskey, but still young. It doesn't quite reach the level of another well-known rye, though it is complex without any truly off-putting flavors. I would definitely choose this over another sherry cask finished rye. Brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, licorice, and some herbal notes are present. It also has a numbing effect with a good amount of soft tannins. There's a fair amount of smoke, but no leather. The more I taste it, the more I like it. There might be a faint hint of fruit, but it's minimal. The sweet caramel flavor is more akin to slightly scorched caramel than butterscotch or toffee, or perhaps dark toffee. It's good. I would be quite content drinking this. It's intriguing and I'd place it quite near a high-proof bourbon known for its complexity. That bourbon should have been at least this good. Still, it's young and harsh. I suspect the variation is considerable, but I'll assign it a 17 for now. I feel it's at least a 14 or 15, but it's hard to imagine it being higher than a 19 or 20.

Nose: Alcohol right away. I get faint citrus and grain, but alcohol is the strongest initial impression. Some wood and light peanut (surprisingly) start coming in. Okay, the balance is starting to come together. I'm still not happy about that alcohol character, but this is okay and shows promise for older offerings from this distillery. P: I get peanut with some wood, grain, spice, and harshness. I guess some mint too. And definitely just a big alcohol flavor. That part is a lot. There isn't a ton of complexity here and while there are some good flavors, the heart is harsh alcohol. This is certainly not as pleasant as the Peerless bourbon I tried. F: The alcohol harshness with some lemon, spice, and woody peanut linger. It's not a great finish. - Conclusion - This shows some good potential, but it's trying to drink. Frankly, I'd rather not drink it. I previously had a pour from a different bottle of Peerless and I really liked it. I don't know why this one is such a disappointment in comparison. I'm looking at somewhere around a 12/23 for this. Maybe my tastes have evolved or maybe there is some HUGE batch variation going on here. Side-by-side, I don't see a characteristic other than proof in which this beats Russell's Reserve Rye 6. I like a good dose of high proof to enhance my dram (see Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof), but the proof here just isn't having the transformative effect that it needs to. All of the other ryes I have on hand just strike me as better than this, unfortunately. There is just no way that this is higher than a 14. I'm thinking of an 11 to 14 most likely. I'm going with 13.

Uncorking - Nose: Rich, with a strong rye presence followed by green grass and mint. Burnt sugar, akin to crème brûlée, with an earthy, almost umami undertone. It even has a faint hint of beef or mushroom. I checked the bottle to ensure it wasn't the glassware, and the scent is definitely present. Taste: Abundant spice, rye, cinnamon, pie-like flavors, and a heat that feels like it's over 120 proof, making the tongue tingle. This is followed by a perfumed sweetness enhanced by air on the tongue. The mouthfeel is decent, with a slight oiliness, and it doesn't feel like it's only two years old. Finish: Rich and peppery, with layers of vanilla and crème brûlée alternating in prominence. An excellent rye. I understand the following: If rye isn't your preference, you'll likely dislike this. It's rye amplified, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was quite eager for this one. After opening the bottle, the aroma presented pleasant notes of oak, spice, and some vanilla. A promising start, as it lacks a strong alcohol scent. My initial sip delivered a good amount of spice followed by oak. Then, some agreeable sweet flavors emerged with a hint of vanilla. It possesses a pleasingly smooth consistency and taste. It's well-balanced and generally smooth all around. My only reservation is the bottle's price in comparison to other ryes I believe are in a similar range. It costs more than double some of them. So, while I appreciate having a bottle, I'm uncertain if I'd purchase another.

I absolutely love this Rye. It is a fantastic treat. Nice dancing on the tongue with hard hitting proof. Hints of spicy vanilla and saddle leather. But, I really want to recommend it. I really do. However at $90, its not that substantially better than its peers in the Rye category to be worth the extra $30-45. As a treat or celebratory bottle? Do it. Savor it. Enjoy it. As a stock Rye entry? Needs work. As a friend said, "cute bottle!". As I said, "better damn be".

Perhaps one of the finest ryes I have ever sampled. The aroma is remarkably intricate, featuring notes of cedar shavings, toasted sugar, preserved spearmint, fennel root, along with traces of cinnamon and baking spices. On the palate, the sweetness is more pronounced, with the caramel becoming more dominant. Clove spice and oak are harmoniously integrated, and there are whispers of brioche on the exceptionally long finish. I can't find a single thing I would alter about this whisky!