Templeton Rye Maple Cask Finish

Neat. Tumbler. The bottle is almost gone. The swirl shows a moderately oily appearance with medium yellow-orange color. The crisp, bright aroma allows for extended nosing, revealing oak, vanilla, and bell pepper. Dusty grain notes of rye and oats are present. The maple syrup flavor is subtle until suddenly prominent - like a mental trick. Corn flakes are noticeable. The black tea and toasted pie crust notes mentioned by another reviewer are certainly discernible. It's quite integrated and harmonious, but uncovering its additional layers requires considerable effort. The taste is thin, starting with sweet simple syrup, then the maple flavors become much clearer on the palate. It quickly shifts to a drying, vegetal rye spice. Pervasive ethanol fumes are present, surprisingly so given how long you can smell it without issue. It likely behaves very differently once opened and the aromas can directly impact the senses. The aftermath is pleasant and tingly, with oak astringency and lingering chocolate, more rye, cooked carrots, and pepper. It has some appeal, but the spice and fumes are as aggressive as they are inviting. There's potential in its construction, but it's ultimately more intense than I prefer. Notably, it doesn't seem to exhibit the cinnamon and Angostura/gentian flavoring typical of standard releases, though it might be masked by the finishing process. Okay, a second pour to finish the tasting notes indicates the bottle was finished quickly and emptied. Frankly, I mostly used this for Manhattans, where the sweetness combined with the kick of fumes and rye worked better for my palate than most 51% ABV spirits. It's not terrible, but not great either. Given the price, I have no regrets trying it, but I won't miss it on my shelf now that it's gone. That's how I define a 3-star rating.

I typically tend to dislike Templeton Rye, especially given their past marketing, which suggested a historic, illicitly made recipe. However, they source their rye from MGP, and there's nothing wrong with that. For this particular rye, which has a cask finish, there's a pleasant balance between the rye's spice and the sweet molasses from the maple barrel. Using rye whiskey with finishing barrels is sensible, as it avoids the excessive sweetness sometimes found with bourbon and wine casks.

While I generally prefer Scotch and am not a fan of Bourbon, I'm inexplicably drawn to Rye Whiskey. It has a fantastic aroma and an almost overwhelming taste. I've found that this local Iowa Rye Whiskey is unmatched and in a category of its own. I can't stop smelling it, much like I can't stop smelling Macallan 12. The aromas are completely different, but equally addictive. The pleasant burn and aftertaste make me want more. It's a nice departure from Scotch.

An outstanding whiskey, quite different from what I anticipated. It offers a subtle sweetness that harmonizes beautifully with the rye's peppery spice. I appreciate that this is a genuine cask finish. Adding a little water enhances notes of red berries and walnuts. The 46% ABV is also a positive aspect.

Fantastic. Our group of 5 whiskey aficionados unanimously agreed it was among the best barrel finishes we've ever tried. We also made an excellent Manhattan with it tonight, comparing it both neat and in a cocktail. It was a winner across the board for us.

I sampled this and was pleasantly surprised. It was low on my list to try, but this was truly excellent. Very smooth. It bears some resemblance to Minor Case.