Castle & Key Single Barrel Restoration Rye (2021)

It's the final day of the year. Rye whiskey month has concluded. Let's finish up! Objectives: My aim was for five ryes, four and a half stars, and common availability. I identified six that now fit: WT101, Whistlepig 10, Whistlepig 12, Old Riff, VOSN Summer Rye, Willett 4yr. I'm declaring this goal achieved. While I'm not entirely sure all of these will remain consistently available, I could also include a High West barrel finished product, a Barrell Rye single barrel, or Alberta. I believe that provides sufficient options for five slots. I intended to discern the conceptual distinctions between bourbons and ryes. I haven't quite reached that point. However, I do think it's achievable. My palate underwent a transformation during this endeavor, and it will require some recalibration to reliably perform this task. I sought an Empire Rye. (1 out of 1, Hudson). Mission accomplished. I wanted a rye that represents the worst possible thing my youngest child could imagine. I desired the one that evokes the feeling of being overlooked by siblings during the last weekend of winter break. Regarding that final objective: I started with a bias that certain ryes were too intense to be enjoyable. Based on the palates of friends I respect, the Willett 4yr should have fit that description. However, as of last night, not only was that Willett delightful, but one of my all-time favorite bourbons (Hancock's) tasted awful. After a month of consuming exclusively ryes, that BT mashbill #2 goodness was sickeningly sweet, and I know from years of appreciation that this issue is temporary. For this project, my palate has shifted. I believe that last objective was met, and I'm going to categorize the "rye intensity" bias in the same vein as "high proof" or "aged beyond 15 years." These aspects require some adjustment, but can be rewarding once you adapt. Additional findings: Can you replicate the brilliance of the High West Double Rye PX Sherry finish by simply adding PX sherry to a standard double rye? The concise answer is no. Nevertheless, I combined some PX sherry with Double Rye (approximately 10% sherry) and achieved a respectable outcome. The flavors are good and echo the original. The drawback is that this iteration is far too sweet, and the balance is compromised. It's almost as if the ABV and oak exposure were mishandled. It remains intriguing and is worth trying purely for the entertainment factor. Whistlepig is generally overpriced and overhyped. There are exceptions, but sufficient examples exist to validate this viewpoint. Preservation Distillery ryes are not a reliable source for quality. Even more so than Whistlepig, there are enough instances to justify this opinion. Canadian ryes are legitimate. Most of my preferred ryes this month were Canadian or sourced from Canada. I never would have anticipated this, and I have no explanation for it. But it is a fact. >>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's remarkable about each of these bottlings is their distinct differences. While their shared heritage is apparent, much like siblings, each possesses its own unique qualities. Among the trio, Barrel No. 1275 emerged as the favorite, offering a sweeter entry and a rich finish. Barrel No. 1216 and Barrel No. 1529 were very close in their flavor profiles, though the latter had a slightly more integrated character. In summary, these are outstanding ryes, skillfully produced. If you have the chance to sample any of these single barrel selections, you'll undoubtedly become a devoted admirer.

Cereal and slightly buttery on the nose. Palate: Sour pear! Perhaps some cinnamon. It also has a slightly unusual texture, as if it wasn't filtered quite finely enough (though I don't dislike it).

There's a specific note in the finish that I find unappealing. I admire the bottle and the narrative of this new distillery, but the bourbon falls short.

Very spicy. Its flavor brings to mind autumn. I approve.

Pronounced rye flavor.