Castle & Key Restoration Rye Single Barrel (Stillery 2022)

This single barrel comes in at 59.2% ABV. The aroma immediately hits with a wave of floral rye spice, toasted wood, vanilla, and cooked brown sugar. As it opens up, notes of green fruit and earth begin to emerge. This is unmistakably rye and quite intriguing. The palate is dry and rich, coating the mouth with intense rye spice that walks a fine line between earthy and floral. Oak is very pronounced, pushing most other flavors to the background. While this is primarily a rye, it possesses a certain astringency, almost as if it needed more time aging to fully develop its esters. The finish is medium length, chewy, and spicy. Creamy notes linger alongside the astringency. You can sense significant potential in this whiskey, but it undeniably requires additional aging. It's a perfectly decent drink on its own, but it doesn't stand up well against more complex whiskies.

Floral notes hit you strongly. This rye is quite unusual. The aroma is consistent with the initial taste. It's sweet with a floral character that lingers. It's not unpleasant, just not the rye I expected or am accustomed to. I've visited the distillery; it's a lovely place. Forget about your rye aspirations and concentrate on bourbon.

This rye is overwhelmingly peachy, with a fantastic rye spice on the finish. The upfront is loaded with fruit and peaches, followed by a subtle vanilla cream conclusion. Truly unique and outstanding.

A bit too acidic