Union Horse Reunion Straight Rye

This is the first spirit I've tried from Union Horse, and I'm very impressed. Rich, bold, full, with a complex aroma that completely envelops a very intriguing, funky fruit note from the yeast. Sweet, vanilla, and smoky. Much better than I anticipated. It's a 100% rye, aged in full-size barrels.

Perhaps it merits four stars. I sampled it at Martin City Brewery. It's complex yet balanced. Since I had it after some heavily spiced Christmas beers, I couldn't properly appreciate its nuances against the strong spice. However, it has a lot of flavor, including some leathery notes beneath the fruit. I should try it again in a more tranquil setting.

The aroma has vanilla and cinnamon with subtle hints of allspice and alcohol. The palate is very vegetal and green pepper with a slight hint of allspice. There's also a faint, almost burnt flavor. It has a very chewy texture and is subtly hot.

A very nice and balanced rye. Plenty of rye spice on the palate. A pleasant vanilla aroma and a nice warmth on the finish, but not too overpowering.

Aroma has a sweet rye character. Sweetness and rye are the first tastes. It has a noticeable spice from the start. The finish is moderately long with a smooth, sweet caramel flavor.

Aroma: sugar, vanilla, corn, apple Flavor: candy, sweet corn, vanilla, oak Finish: brief and sweet, a touch of vanilla