Templeton Rye 6 Year

Nose: Sweet cream with caramel notes, mixed with hints of shaving soap, herbs, and baking spices like cardamom and cumin. Faint traces of berries lurk in the background. Palate: Fruity, with berries apparent from the first taste. Caramel, fresh herbs, possibly a touch of dill, and mint sit atop ripe orchard fruit. The finish introduces some oaky bitterness, balanced by more fruit and caramel sweetness. Abundant herbs are present, along with subtle mineral undertones. A decent rye. It doesn't particularly excel or falter in any area. The fruit notes are pleasant but don't quite elevate it beyond other ryes in its price bracket. Some more affordable options, like EC rye for a bit less or Old Overholt BiB rye, a personal favorite around $22, offer more complexity. However, this flavor profile might appeal more to certain palates.

The aroma is spicy with a pleasant, full woodiness. The taste is smooth and viscous, with a slightly oily feel and some gentle, low-level heat and tingle in the background. The flavor profile offers a distinct rye character, unlike many others. It's surprisingly sweet, but not overpoweringly so. Brown sugar is quite prominent, complemented by nice cinnamon spice and a whisper of clove. There's a subtle fruity element, akin to apple skin, but not a tart green or sweet red apple. This is remarkably good, boasting well-integrated flavors and solid execution. Rye isn't typically my preference, and I'd appreciate more complexity. A pleasant toasted almond note lingers significantly on the finish. More fruit does emerge, forming the foundation of the sweetness. The oak's vanilla presence is nice, avoiding an overly floral profile. It's not particularly floral and thankfully lacks much mineral character. It's a very clean rye. A touch more mineral does eventually appear, regrettably, but it remains a pleasant, clean rye nonetheless.

On the nose, this offering presents a lot of citrus, cream soda, vanilla, and mint. The palate does not reflect the nose and drinks on the spicy side. The spices are not overwhelming but do coat the back of the throat, with some burnt caramel and toffee notes coating the roof of the mouth. The citrus and cream soda notes are nowhere to be found. The finish is of medium length and not at all unpleasant. It wouldn't be ranked as a great rye but does make for an easy sipper and an excellent option for an Old Fashioned or other rye cocktail. Too many better ryes for far less money to consider repurchasing. Nose: 3.75/5 Taste: 3/5 Overall: 3.25/5 Repurchase: No Type: Mixer/Daily Sipper

I'll start by saying I'm not a big fan of the standard four-year Templeton, and I certainly disliked their deceptive marketing that led people to believe they distilled their own whiskey. However, a friend had a bottle of the 6-year, so I didn't have to buy it myself. This 6-year is an improvement over the four-year and better than I anticipated. That said, it's not your typical spicy rye; it's more juicy than dry. It's an easy sipper at a fair price, suitable for those relatively new to ryes. Don't expect an overly complex drink; enjoy it in a cocktail or on the rocks.

This MGP Indiana Distillery Rye Whiskey is intricate, crafted with winter and spring rye grains, then double distilled and matured in Missouri-made American white oak barrels. Templeton Rye Spirits Templeton 6 Year Old Rye Whiskey... In 2010, Templeton selected a few casks by hand and bottled the Whiskey six years afterward at 91.5 proof. It begins with a fragrant bouquet of butterscotch, floral hints, and rye spices; its substantial and fruit-forward life offers notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, apple, rose, mint, and a touch of toasted oak; concluding with a spicy finish of moderate duration, featuring caramel, cinnamon, and scorched sugar. August 2020 / July 2022

An enjoyable whiskey for sipping. It's likely the highest quality I would consider for mixing. It has a distinctive spice, different from many others, though something feels slightly absent in the body. The initial sip is pleasant with creaminess and sweetness, followed by a robust and herbal spice foundation and finish. However, the mid-palate elements feel a bit underdeveloped.