Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye (NAS)

Rating: 13/23 Nose: This offers a maltier profile with more alcohol than anticipated. It has a characteristic herbal rye tartness, leaning slightly towards mint, with the faintest herbal undertones and some granny smith apple notes. While not exceptionally complex, it certainly presents as high proof. Palate: Yes, it's high proof, with significant alcohol and burn. There's not a lot of wood influence, but there is some pleasant rye with green apple, peppery spice, a little vanilla, and mild caramel. These elements are good, but they don't seem well-integrated or aged. It's not harsh, but it is quite hot and clearly young. A larger sip does help meld and balance the flavors with some added caramel sweetness, but it remains hot and not fully developed. Finish: Sweet creek water and minerals begin to emerge. I detect spices with wood, faint vanilla, and faint green apple. The rye grain character is also present to a degree. Its core is decent, but the watery aspect is a drawback. - Conclusion - This isn't bad, but I wouldn't purchase a bottle. It relies on its proof rather than its character. It needs more time to age and develop its profile, resulting in more mature, balanced flavors. This is less substantial than my bottle of Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength 4 Year (rated 14/23), but the Old Scout's aging seems rushed, making it less balanced and nuanced. I'm placing the two in a comparable range, though if forced to choose, I'd opt for the Old Scout. This is either a 13 or a 14. Oh, wow. Wild Turkey 101 (rated 14/23) is better than this. It's definitely a 13. Thanks for the sample, someone!

It's a classic contest between two 'villes,' Rossville versus Pikesville. I should have chosen something with a more similar mash bill for comparison. Since Pikesville is pound-for-pound one of my favorite ryes and possibly the best whiskey under $40, I opted for a side-by-side of the $40 Pikesville and the $60 Rossville. Based on color alone, the Pikesville appears significantly darker. On the nose, the Rossville presents as much more 'rye-forward,' with the dill note immediately noticeable. The palate mirrors this with strong herbal notes, plus some cinnamon and orange. The Pikesville offers more corn sweetness with rye spice on the finish. I find the Rossville to be well-crafted. I enjoy it. However, it's quite standard for rye, and I feel like I've encountered it before, likely because MGP supplies a large portion of the whiskey I see. I genuinely appreciate MGP, or Squibb and others, and will undoubtedly continue to spend a lot on their whiskies, but I'm not purchasing this one, partly because I prefer Pikesville. For a more rye-centric profile at $60, I would rather get Willett 4-year Rye, as it's more engaging. I'd also prefer Wilderness Trail SiB around the same price. If this were closer to $40, I might consider buying it. Finally, my sincere thanks again for the sample. I'm glad I had the chance to taste this without buying a bottle and later regretting saving money by not getting Pikesville instead.

A friend suggested this, though I'm unsure if they tried the barrel proof version. Given the availability of both side-by-side, and having purchased three other barrel proof bottles recently, it felt appropriate to select this one. MGP products are consistently excellent. The aroma presents a lot of cut grass, mint, and cinnamon. This is precisely what I anticipate from MGP without any embellishments, and what a good rye should be. The color is a nice medium hue, and it appears to be around an average of 6 years old. The alcohol is quite noticeable and warming on the nose, but this could also be the rye spice interacting with the high proof. The taste begins with an easily approachable grassy, oaky, vanilla profile, but within seconds of swirling, it becomes incredibly spicy and hot. The high proof is certainly dominant here, yet caramel and sweet wood sugars still come through clearly. The finish is intensely spicy cinnamon, but with ample sweetness to support it. This is a highly recommended purchase. It's rare for a barrel proof version to be inferior to a diluted one, and this stands up well, almost certainly improving upon the lower proof version. It even tastes older than its stated age, which is always a positive attribute for rye whiskeys. In fact, a longer aging period would be the only potential enhancement. A truly great find.

A special bottling from a store in Gilbert, AZ, at 116.7 proof. This review focuses on the distinctions between this store selection and the standard bottling. The notes are primarily relevant to the Phoenix, AZ vicinity. Wow, the aroma is much more herbal compared to the standard version. (Not necessarily a negative.) I'm detecting basil, oregano, star anise, mint, and sage. There's some honey present if you search for it, but leafy, grassy notes dominate. The aroma carries directly onto the palate. This is intensely herbaceous. The palate and finish have a lot of eucalyptus, mint, camphor, and pepper. A bit of sour dill also makes an appearance. The closest it gets to sweet is cinnamon. The finish lasts a very long time, and the texture has a pleasing weight. I suspect a thin texture would absolutely ruin this, so I'm grateful for its presence. I have to admit, I adore herbal cask strength ryes. However, this one pushes the limits a bit too far. It could benefit from a touch more sweetness for balance. Instead, it feels like a journey through a spice shop. Honestly, some individuals might strongly dislike this. For me, it's quite good but doesn't quite reach the level of a truly top-tier, more complex rye. At $76, I might consider buying it again, but only if I had a gap in my collection for this specific flavor profile.

Nose: anise, peppermint, dry herbaceous notes, banana bread, dill, yeast, spiced apple, caramel, vanilla, clove, dry oak, with a moderate to high ethanol presence. Palate: anise, peppermint, apple, orange oil, dill, unripe banana, vanilla, caramel, clove, earthy herbaceous notes, white pepper, with a moderate to high alcohol bite. The finish is medium length with peppermint, anise, rye spice, and caramel flavors. I've experienced MGP rye under various labels, and after recently finishing a series of George Remus expressions, another MGP house brand seemed like the logical next step. There's no mistaking this for a rye on the nose. The ethanol is quite potent, making it challenging to distinguish individual aromas. However, once you get past the vapors, anise, dill, banana bread, and clove are all readily apparent. The palate is similarly alcohol-forward. This is an exceptionally spicy rye, and many of the same characteristics appear as flavors. There's very little sweetness; almost all the notes are herbaceous, minty, peppery, and citrusy. While I appreciate spicy ryes, this one is so intense, bright, and earthy that it comes across as one-dimensional. It's definitely better than average, but I'd be more inclined to use this in a strong cocktail rather than sipping it neat from a tasting glass.

The Northeast weather is rapidly cooling. Last week I wore shorts, and this weekend is dedicated to family time. To kick off the weekend, a warming whiskey feels appropriate. Upon the initial inhale, the immediate mental image is autumn. Notes of cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, fennel, and beer bread are present, with hints of vanilla and caramel. Spice, heat, and sweetness define the light-bodied experience. Ginger, cloves, rye, and orange zest appear first on the palate. As your senses adjust to the spicy tingle, a pleasant wave of sweetness offers a nice contrast. Flavors include confectioners' sugar, cola, spearmint, and vanilla. A little water enhances the sweetness of the pour. The finish is oaken, drying, and woody, leaving the palate feeling minty fresh with a whisper of vanilla and black pepper. I'd best label this a sweet rye. The high alcohol content is unnoticeable, and it drinks quite smoothly. Whether neat or diluted, there's no incorrect method of enjoyment. I anticipated a rye leaning more towards dill and pumpernickel. It's a robust, enjoyable, and flavorful rye whiskey. A distinctive rye. My thanks to a friend for the delightful sample. [88/100][Tasted: 11/5/21]