Templeton Rye Caribbean Rum Cask Finish

I'll start by saying that I love Angel's Envy Rye (which is also finished in rum barrels), but I'm not thrilled with the price of around $85. I was excited to see two new rum-finished ryes emerge this year, first the Redemption and now the Templeton. While all 3 are made using MGP-sourced 95/5 rye, they have different ages and spent varying amounts of time in rum barrels. Angel's Envy is 6-7 years old and finished for 18 months in rum barrels that previously held Cognac. The Redemption is only 2 years old and finished for just 3 months in Jamaican rum casks, so it's very young with a brief finish (and it's not very good). This Templeton Rye Caribbean Rum Cask Finish is 6 years old and finished for 6 months in dark Jamaican Rum casks. The extra age and extended finish put it far ahead of the Redemption, and I'd say it's about 70% as good as the Angel's Envy - though it's not quite as dessert-like, perhaps due to the absence of Cognac notes. But what you do get are your typical MGP rye notes initially, followed by a pleasant finish of tropical fruits, coconut, overripe banana (reminiscent of banana bread), a bit of orange zest, and oak spice. Truly delicious stuff, and I strongly suggest trying it if you're a fan of Angel's Envy Rye. I was fortunate to find this for only $29.99, which is an incredible deal as it's cheaper than the standard Templeton 6yr Rye, although I've seen it priced as high as $49. I consider it a worthwhile purchase at anything under $45. My rating of 4.25 reflects a base score of 4.0 at the suggested retail price, with an additional.25 for value based on what I paid.

A strong green apple flavor. It truly tastes like a birthday celebration where grandma made her cinnamon apple pie with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. Great balance of spice and sweetness. I'm looking forward to another glass tomorrow night.

I typically don't enjoy rye, but this one is intriguing. It's not great, but it's not bad either. The aroma is interesting, though I can't pinpoint it. Ultimately, it's still rye, and I'm not a fan.

The spice from the rye is somewhat subdued at the initial taste. Rum flavors emerge in the mid-palate. The finish carries a rum aroma.

Abundant honey notes are present, complemented by the characteristic rye spice on the finish.

Pleasant. Only slight rum-cask influences detected.