Sazerac 18 Year Rye (Fall 2014)

I appreciate my cask strength whiskies, and I'm not particularly fond of rye-forward spirits, even though I've recently tried a few. This straight Rye Whiskey is well-regarded and appears somewhat pricey for what it delivers. Bottled at 64.5% ABV, this ranks among the most potent whiskies I've ever encountered. Despite my ability to handle high ABV spirits, this was challenging. On the nose, it's simply too intense and seems youthful due to the alcohol presence. Soap, rice, and rice water are the primary notes I detected. These are typical characteristics of young American whiskies. On the palate and in the aftertaste, it's overwhelmingly spicy. Rye whiskies possess a certain sweet spiciness, but this one felt too raw and grainy. I typically don't add water to any cask strength expressions, so I figured I wouldn't use it here either. If the whiskey were good, a bit of natural aeration would suffice. Overall, this did not meet my expectations. Far too spicy, unpleasant, and quite bland for a dram that should be bursting with flavor due to its higher ABV. A score of 61 out of 100.

Thrilled to have found this, and I would purchase it regardless of cost. It's outstanding, the finest rye I've ever tasted, surpassing even Black Maple Hill.

Absolutely delightful. Silky caramel flavors with a long, subtly spicy finish.