Pinhook 4 Year Tiz Rye Time Vertical Series

This rye whiskey is made with 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It's 97 proof. I'm trying a sample provided by a friend, as it's not sold at Total Wine here in Albuquerque. The Tucson Total Wine location advertises a bottle for $49.99. The color is amber, with maybe a slight red tint. The legs form slowly and are close together, moving down the glass erratically and at a sluggish pace. The aroma of this whiskey is incredible. It starts with a distinct floral scent, followed by fruitiness, and a subtle hint of oak. Smelling deeper in the glass revealed aromas of gingerbread, bananas, caramel, and a touch of rye spice. This was a very enjoyable aroma, setting expectations high, which unfortunately were not met. On the palate, this whiskey offered much less complexity. The rye spice was certainly present, along with a mild fruitiness and a faint taste of oak. The finish was brief, featuring a strong spice and oak. Honestly, I much prefer Bulleit rye, which has a less intricate nose but a more complex taste and finish, and is superior overall. Even Knob Creek rye, while not quite matching Bulleit, is preferable. The nose is unquestionably the highlight of the whiskey. The producer needs to make significant improvements to align the taste and finish with the quality of the nose. I'd consider paying $15 or $20 for this, but I would never spend $49.99 on it.

Nose: Similar to Willet 4-year rye but more pronounced. Features earthy notes, citrus, orange peels, lemongrass, and nuttiness. Taste: Bold and full-bodied. Citrus, abundant orange, oakiness, rye spice, and a black pepper finish. A lingering rye spice with black pepper on a very oily and long-lasting palate.

It's difficult not to appreciate this rye. It offers a great level of balanced rye spice. It's an excellent sipping whiskey and a fantastic rye for a Manhattan. If you enjoy adding your own smoke, it creates an unparalleled smoked Manhattan.

MGP provides the barrels, but Castle & Key handles the blending and bottling. The founder and head taster, a man named Sean Josephs, makes the final choice. This is a great 95/5 rye. You should definitely try it.

A favored rye at my place, classic MGP. Excited to sample this yearly progression.

Notes of spearmint, cherry, pecan, brown sugar, marshmallow, vanilla, and rye spice are present.