Redemption Barrel Proof 8 Year Straight Rye

Avoid! This $100 purchase is my most regretted whiskey buy yet. It needs at least an hour to breathe, which helps a little. The palate and finish are overwhelmed by dill, more than I anticipated for a barrel-proof MGP rye. Something else is decidedly off in the palate/finish—perhaps chemical or plastic. Of over a dozen ryes I've tried, this is the first I've strongly disliked. The bitter rye aftertaste really gets me. It tastes like the worst aspects of rye, with no other complexity or flavor from the mash bill. The funky finish (sour dill?) of MGP ryes seems to worsen with age; the same awful aftertaste found in Russell's Reserve Rye (6yr) is more pronounced in the Redemption 8yr. Conversely, this isn't really present in Bulleit Rye (also from MGP, aged 4-7 years, more likely 4-5). I much prefer High West Rendezvous Rye, and even Double Rye, for MGP ryes due to the strange bitter/sour note here. Compared to this, I favor Willett 3yr rye, Colonel Taylor Rye, Knob Creek Rye, and even Baby Sazerac. It's definitely not worth the $100 I paid. Still, it's quite distinct (beyond sweet ryes, Willett Rye, MGP rye, and High West blended rye) if that's your goal. I do detect gingerbread, though it's drier than sweet.

Tastes like MGP. It's delicious, but it's got a kick.

Palm September 2016

Simply fantastic.

Specific name.