Winchester Small Batch Rye Whiskey

Rating: 10/23 Nose: Sweet, with caramel and malt notes, plus a layer of herbal spices. Unfortunately, there's also a noticeable ethanol presence. It's not terrible, but the aroma isn't good. Palate: Not as intense as I anticipated. Spicy and sweet, with caramel that's a bit on the light side. Possibly faint malt. Yes, some malt is coming through with a hint of green banana. I detect some ethanol and a slight burn. Oh, that ethanol and burn are increasing. This palate isn't good at all, though there are glimpses of appealing flavors. Barrel spices are the dominant flavor, but there are also herbal spices. Finish: The spice profile leans more towards herbal notes, and hints of vanilla are added to the sweetness. Touches of clean water. A trace of that industrial ethanol flavor persists, but it's not too bad. A faint burning sensation remains. - Conclusion - This is poor. The flavor isn't as muddled as The Sexton (9/23), but the ethanol is more pronounced, and there's a bit more of an industrial quality here. I don't think this deserves a 7, and I'm hesitant to give it an 8, but a 10 seems like the highest score I could assign. I'm currently leaning towards a 10. Revisiting this, I briefly considered it might be a 14, but the more I've tasted it, the more I agree with my initial 10, and I can even see a lower score. Regrettably, this is the best of the Winchester whiskeys I've sampled.

Smells of leather and grass. Served neat, it has notes of green apple skin and tobacco, with dry grasses. It's quite unlike their usual rye but not superior, simply different for my preference. A small amount of ice smooths it out and reduces some of the sharpness. It's better served on the rocks or in a mixed drink.