The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey

Score: 19/23 Nose: Sweet with intriguing spices, reminiscent of Christmas ribbon candy but with a more interesting, faint herbal and vegetal quality. The aroma is surprisingly complex and a pleasure to experience, offering hints of sweet, light orange peel and white corn. Fortunately, the vegetal notes are not unpleasant or indicative of decay. It smells young, but in a good way. This is already a tremendous success. I'm hopeful the palate lives up to the nose. Palate: Light and easy to drink, with a distinct sweetness that highlights the grain, similar to Sierra Norte but less intense. This tastes young yet is elegantly balanced. The ribbon spice candy flavor is present, as is an interesting herbal note, bringing in some mint not detected on the nose, even a touch of spearmint which isn't bad. A bit more clove adds some woody tannin. Finish: The ribbon spice candy flavor persists for a long time, accompanied by a bit of orange peel and hints of rye herbs. - Summary - This is a truly unexpected whiskey. It presents unusual flavors yet remains well-balanced. It's light yet rich, with youthful characteristics harmonizing with mature smoothness. It's good, unique, and I'd happily purchase a bottle. Compared to WhistlePig PiggyBack (16/23), which is bolder with similar flavors but less mature, balanced, and nuanced, this is clearly superior. I'd rate this no lower than an 18, possibly a 20. Old Forester Rye (15/23) shares similar complexity but is more assertive and less mature. While close, I may consistently underestimate the Old Forester. These two are quite similar, but I might prefer this one slightly. Sierra Norte Red Corn (15/23) is much funkier and more challenging than this offering. Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve (18-19/23) is bolder and more intense, yet offers significant spicy complexity. Honestly, this might be slightly better. This reminds me of older Willett expressions. While an "older" Willett I tried (around 6 years) tasted nothing like this, this spirit does evoke the sense of a Willett rye that has aged longer and been proofed down. Willett Family Estate 4 (15/23), a popular choice, seems muddled, direct, and bitter next to this. I'm settling on a 19, but a score between 17 and 20 would be justifiable. This was a genuinely pleasant surprise. Thank you to a friend for sharing!

Attended a tasting event with a friend. Previously, I had sampled a specific rye from the same maker (whisky taste #70 3.5/5) at a similar event. Tastings are always blind at my local store. The aroma of this drink immediately identified it as that particular rye; I recalled its profile well from eight months prior. Nose: Thick, leathery rye and stewed plum that becomes oily. Notes of mint and slight tannin with brown sugar. Palate: Very spice-forward with a peppery profile. Oily, with a biscuity vanilla. Dark and caramelly. Perhaps a little unexciting, which is unexpected given the strong rye spice. Finish: Short to medium. Minty-menthol freshness. The rye spice is somewhat overwhelming. A final burst of orange. Comparing the nose, it's very similar to the other rye but leans towards an oily and minty scent in this expression versus a more toffee and syrupy profile in the other. The palate is less inviting and immersive here compared to the other, and it doesn't captivate me as much. The finish is less intricate and aromatic than the other. In general, this and the other rye are quite alike, but if my recollection and notes are accurate, the other expression has more character and depth. This is surprising because this expression is significantly pricier than the other (AUD 94.99 versus 79.99). Regardless, if you're seeking Australian rye, consider a different brand. Whisky taste #175 The other rye: 3.5/5 This rye: 3.25/5

The aroma offers freshly cut grass, motor oil, and bergamot orange, followed by slightly charred caraway seeds, then tart apple, lemon juice, and grapefruit rind, transitioning to dill, spearmint, and toasted pumpernickel bread with a moderate alcohol sting. The palate has a medium body, beginning with a noticeable sourness and bitter spice that subsides into a blend of fresh cut grass, motor oil, and bergamot orange, then slightly burnt caraway seeds, followed by tart apple, lemon zest, and grapefruit rind, shifting to dill, spearmint, and charred pumpernickel bread with a moderate alcohol burn. The finish is of medium duration, featuring charred pumpernickel bread, vanilla extract, and dill. Overall, this expression is not exceptional, and its immaturity is evident in the sour fruits and sharp herbal rye notes that would greatly benefit from additional barrel time to refine the flavors. I am curious to experience its evolution with more age. Thank you to a friend for the generous sample of this Australian rye.

I purchased this solely based on the marketing. The bottle is attractive, and I like the name. I didn't have high hopes for the whiskey itself, although some seem to have been pleasantly surprised by it. The aroma reminds me of wet grass, something medicinal, green wood, and possibly apple. The palate is sweeter than anticipated given the aroma, and some herbal rye notes come through, but the youth of this 2-year-old rye is evident. I would be very interested to try this at 4 or 6 years old, as it seems too immature now. The marketing is excellent, though, so I hope the whiskey improves.

NOSE Dry-wood notes, citrus, baking spice, hints of vanilla, sweet cereal grain, and toffee with a subtle biscuity character. There's a touch of that "crafty woodiness" in the aroma, but it's far from being the primary characteristic. PALATE Baking spice, vanilla, bergamot, sweet cereal grain, honey, woody oak, and some toffee and herbal notes. Not bad; in fact, it's rather pleasant. The "crafty woodiness" does make an appearance, but it's not strong or overwhelming. FINISH Medium length, with baking spice, citrus peel, and woody oak fading into more spice.

Received from a friend. This one is a little different. The nose has celery, playdough, some orange pekoe tea leaves with a mandarin sweetness. The palate carries the sweet notes but includes some oak and mild herbal rye spice. The finish fades the palate to a green barrel dryness. This is intriguing but tastes somewhat artificial. I appreciate the Australian influence but doubt I would purchase this if I encountered it......70/100