Redemption Barrel Proof 10 Year Straight Rye (2017 Edition)

The aroma offers notes of Jewish Rye bread, caraway, spearmint, spruce, and rose water. It's somewhat muted for its proof, which is a positive, allowing appreciation of the scent without a harsh burn. Now for a dramatic shift! I'm going to echo the initial reviewers' assessment of the flavor components, as their description is quite accurate. However, my interpretation of those flavors differs significantly: “Lacking the anticipated spice and sweetness of a fine rye whiskey, this is unfortunately dominated by herbal scents like lavender and dill, with strong off-notes of menthol and camphor. The palate introduces sage and basil along with a hint of pepper. A subtle trace of traditional rye flavors appears on the finish, with notes of baking spices and leather.” I question whether this person simply dislikes herbal ryes, because I found the same tasting notes to be quite pleasing. If you're expecting a sweet, 51% rye that's essentially a high-rye bourbon, then disappointment might follow. But as an aged 95/5 rye, this delivers everything I desire and more. To claim this isn't a "quality rye" is absurd. This little treasure masterfully presents unique herbal flavors in a well-integrated, cohesive manner. It's almost like an herbal liqueur, but without the syrupy sweetness. The mouthfeel is full and chewy. It directs the flavors precisely to the tip of the tongue. Outstanding. At $90, this is hardly a bargain. I'm reluctantly assigning it a 4; if it were priced in the typical $60 range for a rye, it would be much closer to a 5.

Nose - (without water) A nose full of spicy hot cinnamon, dark vanilla caramel, toasted toffee, a little black pepper and herbal notes, with a hint of oaky leather. (with water) The heat and burn are greatly reduced, with oaky vanilla, charred cinnamon, less sweetness, dark vanilla caramels, and charred herb stems. Taste - (without water) Tannic/oaky hot cinnamon heat/tingle, sweet vanilla, light oaky bitterness, spicy cinnamon caramels, light dry herbal sweetness. (with water) Still tannic/dry, with charred cinnamon sticks, leather, light vanilla caramel sweetness, and spicy cinnamon heat. Finish - (without water) A lingering dry/tannic oaky heat, bitter charred cinnamon, oaky vanilla simple syrup. (with water) A lingering tingle, slightly less bitter, with oaky charred cinnamon, vanilla caramels, and oaked simple syrup. Score - 71/100 Final Thoughts - This was very hot right from the start. The nose had oaky ethanol heat that carried through to the taste and finish. To me, this tasted like a slightly overoaked overproof rye. It didn't seem to pick up many complexities of fruity sweetness or herbal notes that I find in other ryes. This was straightforward charred cinnamon and leather, with hints of vanilla caramels. I don't think this was very well-balanced, and I think it was a bit overoaked for only being 10 years old. Would I drink it if offered? - Maybe Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

This one has a strong impact. After my palate adapted to this rye, I began to appreciate it. It features dark chocolate, the kind that makes your mouth pucker. I detect notes of charred cinnamon and pepper. It's distinct from the typical ryes I've encountered, but still quite good. Adding a single ice cube helped to mellow it slightly.

A very solid barrel-proof rye. The high rye content (95%) makes it very spice-forward, showcasing the earthiness typical of MGP. It makes an excellent Old Fashioned. However, nothing truly stands out to justify the price.

What became of those fantastic SAOS Barrel Proof Ryes!? They have them and significantly increased the price... thankfully, they're still a third of what SAOS commands on the resale market...

An excellent whiskey. It has a full body and is remarkably smooth for a rye. Abundant fruit flavors are complemented by sweetness and an earthy spice.