Woody Creek Colorado Straight 100% Rye

Appearance: Light, similar to green tea. Fairly weak legs. Nose: Sweet rye, a hint of oak, honey, and green apple. Palate: Unsurgivingly true to the nose. Crisp and bright, with a superb balance of sweet and spicy notes. It has a syrupy consistency and coats the mouth well. Finish: This was unexpected. A long, persistent finish where the sweetness yields to peppery rye spice, lingering for a considerable time and suggesting a higher proof than 90. Delightful. Notes: This was a wonderful surprise. I was drawn in by their new branding and advertisements. I admit it. However, finding 100% Colorado-sourced ingredients is uncommon in Colorado's craft distilling landscape, so I decided to give it a try. I'm still relatively new to ryes, but I will be purchasing this again. My only minor complaint is the screw cap. While it's heavy and well-made, I feel a cork would be preferable.

A friend sent this as a response to one of my favorite bottles that I had previously sent them. Knowing my preference for rye, they chose this. The aroma presented fruity notes, led by banana and followed by pleasant vanilla. The initial taste was well-balanced with spice (reminiscent of fall spices), fruit, and vanilla. Adding a few drops of water enhanced it further, revealing nutmeg, caramel, herbs (like dill), and oak. I am extremely pleased with this whiskey; it might be my new top choice.

Another spirit sampled only in Colorado this week during a business trip. This one was quite good. For a spirit made from 100% rye mashbill, I expected significant spice and heat, perhaps akin to biting into a rye seed. I was mistaken; it was surprisingly floral and light, almost as if wheat were included. At $6 per serving, it's highly recommended! I will look for a bottle on my next visit.

Appearance: Honey Nose: Faint hint of caramel Palate: Cinnamon, clove, caramel I find this rye lacks the scents and flavors I appreciate in rye whiskey. It seems a bit immature and astringent. The subtle notes of baking spice and caramel are too brief. The finish leaves an unpleasant hint of bitterness. I suggest sampling this at a bar before purchasing a bottle.

Nose: orange, leather, black pepper. Taste: intense black pepper with a lengthy finish that mellows into cinnamon. Adding water unified the aromas on the nose and revealed a pleasant pickle brine. The taste and finish were somewhat subdued, but the brine was present. Overall: not exceptionally complex, but fantastic nonetheless!

I really enjoyed this. It was precisely what my preferred bartender suggested. Bright orange/copper color. The aroma has notes of cedar, lemon, a touch of mint, and rye. The flavor is also somewhat floral, with citrus (lemon) and black pepper towards the end. A slightly oily texture, which is pleasant. It's lively but balanced and not harsh. I like it a lot.