Far North Roknar Minnesota Rye Whiskey

Smell: Vanilla frosting, fresh wood shavings, maybe cardamom? Flavor: A sharp bite from young alcohol hits first, followed by young woodiness, bitter vanilla, burnt cinnamon, a drying sensation, cardamom, and a sharp, medicinal, bittersweet note. Aftertaste: A persistent burn from young alcohol, subtle oak bitterness, and a slightly off-putting medicinal sweetness with a hint of spice. Rating: 66/100 Overall: This seemed like a rye that was bottled too soon. Its color was very pale, and I'm uncertain if my portion included the cognac finish. If it did, it likely involved minimal contact with the cask, just enough to say it was there. The aroma was dominated by the scent of new oak barrels and a sweet, ethanol-forward new make. The taste was very similar. The finish was rather disagreeable, with young spirit flavors overwhelming everything. Proper aging in a full barrel allows time to work its wonders. I suspect this was rushed to market. I'll probably avoid their microbarreled offerings but might reconsider if they release a mature product aged in standard barrels.

My life's details are quite unimportant... fine, where do I start? My father was a constantly self-improving baker from Belgium with mild narcolepsy and a tendency for sexual deviancy. My mother was a fifteen-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outlandish claims, like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The kind of general apathy that only geniuses possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring, we'd construct meat helmets. When I was disobedient, I was put in a burlap sack and beaten with reeds - quite standard procedure. At twelve, I received my first scribe. At fourteen, a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritually shaved my testicles. There's truly nothing like a shorn scrotum... it's amazing - I strongly recommend you try it. To sum up - this rye was acceptable, but I would suggest the Bodelan bourbon from Far North over this option.

I listened to the distiller/farmer who crafts this spirit on a podcast recently. He sounds like he shares my faith, so I felt compelled to sample his product. The conclusion: it's acceptable, but far from exceptional. This is the most garden-like rye I've encountered - notes of carrot, dill, and parsley, a hint of nuttiness from the sherry, and a touch of heat. However, something feels off - I suspect the spirit's maturity is the issue, with barrel choice a close second. I'm curious to sample their other ryes; it seems the foundation for quality whiskey is there, but it requires more time and care to fully develop.

My local liquor store had this tagged with a 100/100 rating, so my expectations were high. Didn't measure up, but solid. Great Caramel Vanilla nose. The taste doesn't quite live up to the nose. Definitely has the bite of a younger Rye. Nice fruity finish from the cognac cask but not very smooth. Potential to be very good with more time in the barrel.

This is definitely my go-to Rye. I haven't had the chance to try other offerings from this producer yet, but I like what they're making. The taste descriptions from others are accurate, and I'd add a smoky note which I really enjoy. I don't get the strange comments; it's not a traditional rye. Get Bulleit if you want that kind of thing.

This is without question the poorest purchase I've made in a long time. The lingering taste and aftertaste are searing like cheap alcohol and intense; I needed to get some sweet vermouth to blend and make manhattans with this rye solely to mask some of the rye's unpleasant finish. Keep your cash and select a different option.