Millstone 100 Rye Whisky

Nose: Smells very young, like lightly aged new make rye, with toasted grain sweetness and unripe pineapple. Taste: Sharp, sweet young whiskey, very young rye spice, lightly floral, with the sweet/sharpness of unripe pineapple. Finish: Lingering young spirit sweetness, raw ethanol, and unripe pineapple's sweet/tartness. Score: 48/100 Final Thoughts: This smelled like colored new make rye, almost as if it went through a heavily charred oak funnel. The intense astringency of new make is faint but present. It has a pleasant floral/tropical fruit aspect, but it definitely needs more time aging in wood to mellow and round out. Would I drink it if offered? - No Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

An potent Rye Whiskey from Zuidam Distillery in the Netherlands. This is a 100% Small Batch, 100% artisanal creation from 100% rye grain, distilled 100% in small pot stills, aged 100 months in 100% new American oak barrels & bottled at 100 Proof. Its aroma presents rye, chocolate, pepper, spices, grass, orange blossom, toasted lemon, a trace of thyme, brown sugar & sweet Bourbon; while a rich & velvety body offers notes of lemon, pine, charred oak, cinnamon, malted barley, pepper & sweet rye; concluding with a pleasant, medium-duration warmth featuring cardamom & waxy fruits. October / December 2020 / August 2022

It has mild caramel, mild pepper, herbal notes, spearmint, hints of anise, a dark bready quality, and a noticeable fruitiness like orange, possibly prune. The finish includes an eucalyptus/menthol note, more intense baking spice, and white pepper. I really enjoyed this rye; it's full of character and quality. The price is a bit high, as I'd be more inclined to buy it around $70, but I won't complain because my favorite aspect of this whiskey is that the grain is milled by windmills (I just think that's incredibly cool). I'd recommend picking it up if you're looking for a sipping rye.

This rye is distinctive; I've sampled many ryes, but none quite like this. The aroma is very fresh, reminiscent of being the first on the golf course in the morning. You also detect a strong rye bread scent, like you're preparing to make a delicious peppered pastrami sandwich. The palate is a bit thin, but many classic rye flavors come through clearly. Pepper, spice, rye, and grass are all present, but it tastes somewhat diluted to me. Most of the ryes in my collection are cask strength, so this feels like the Miller Lite of ryes, but that seems to be the European approach...

Sampled 3cL from Fine Drams. Nose: cumin, toffee, tobacco, cooked apricot Palate: Extremely SWEET custard. Honey and caramel. Very mild spice. However, these notes are short-lived. Finish: Also sweet, with some added smoke and heat. Lingering. Quite unique compared to other tastes today. I believe this is a more affordable bottle in Europe and is likely a good value for a rye that is moderately aged compared to similar priced options in the US.

This required a few months to truly open up, but it has finally begun to shine. Notes of dark, leathery fruits, strong pepper and spice, and a rich, gingerbread-like undertone. The nose is likely its strongest feature, absolutely fantastic. It possesses a higher alcohol presence than many, particularly upfront and in the initial months after opening. Allow this one to breathe. That said, it remains a rye, characterized by its spiciness.