Bone Snapper X-Ray Straight Rye Whiskey

Served: 1 Finger pour with 5 drops of water to bring out the notes. Notes: (I'm comparing this alongside the regular Bone Snapper Rye. This allows me to explain how the age changes the notes.) Right after my pour, I bring her up to the nose. I set her down, and then I bring her up a second time. The nose offers what the regular bone snapper rye presented, yet slightly different. The aroma immedialtey gives off a whiff full of apple cider vinegar followed by tannins, sweet vanilla carmel, pine, chrism, and a saltiness like the sea. I go in for a sip, and the X-ray coats the mouth with a thick oily consistency. I’m greeted with salted carmel, sweet-16 apples, tannins, and buttered oak. The mouthful finishes with a perfumey apple and vanilla tobacco taste. This rye is as smooth as can be while still giving off a pepperiness akin to tannins rather than peppercorn itself. It maintains complexity and sweetness, but it’s a lot more mild than the regular Bone Snapper rye. Comments: With age, the bone snapper rye known as the X-Ray 4 year reserve develops a lot more smooth and mellow complexion without sacrificing a slight bite that rye drinkers will surely appreciate. Backbone Bourbon Co. is just phenomenal! Both X-Ray and the standard bone snapper ryes are must haves in one’s cabinet. This Rye is a 4.0 instead of a 4.25 like the regular bone snapper since, I myself, enjoy a nice kick and deeper compexity accompanied by greater pepper-like notes in my ryes. Think of regular bone snapper like a younger brother to the X-Ray. The younger brother is a lot more wild and spicy, while the older brother is a lot more mature and smooth. Both are equally amazing, though slightly different.

This was an interesting bottle on the shelf and I might have passed it by if there was anything more interesting. On this particular day there wasn't so the bottle followed me home. Nose is definitely rye and smells like a pine forest. Not the most appetizing here, but maybe the taste will make up for it. First sip definitely packs some flavor. There is quite a bit of caramel for a rye. It is a bit surprising. Then the backbone rye starts to come through with some spice. I definitely get that woody pine note that young ryes tend to have. The finish brings a light black pepper heat, but never gets too terribly strong. This slowly fades to some lingering sweetness. Overall I am a little floored on this one. For a 4 year rye this is remarkably easy to drink. I would definitely pick up another of these when this bottle runs dry. Don't be fooled by the somewhat cheesy looking label on this one and give it a try.

Nose pops with lemon pepper, hay, barnyard funk, blood orange, cinnamon, honeysuckle, brown sugar and vanilla. There’s also a leafy cooking herb component in there (basil? oregano? thyme?) A complex and inviting nose for sure. On the palate, layers of lemon poppy seed muffin, those “orange slice” candies, snickerdoodle cookie, vanilla, and a kiss of oak. Flavors are bright and punchy as hell. Finish is just ridiculously long with brown sugar, cinnamon, rye spice, black pepper, chili pepper, orange and lemon zest. Everything about this whiskey is just explosive in a good way. At $55, this is like highway robbery. Is it REALLY a 4.75? Yes. Yes it is. I mean...wut? Scratch that, this is terrible. No one should buy it! Well, no one in the Phoenix Arizona area anyway. Outside of that you should get one. Buying a backup bottle before the secret gets out.

Sourced from MGP, and it’s refreshing to see Backbone Bourbon Co. be straight and honest as to where they get their juice from. The mash bill is 95% rye and 5% barley. This bottle is labeled as batch #1 and bottled at 110 proof. On the nose are clove, nutmeg, cinnamon bark and licorice along with notes of banana bread, citrus pine, roasted peanuts, and coal fire. The palate is vibrant and explosive with intense peppercorn, cinnamon bun, toasted caramel, and honeyed candied ginger. The texture is sharp but rich at the same time. Killer value here.

This is by far one of the best rye whisky’s I’ve had. The nose is astringent with a very subtle sweetness. The pallet begins smooth and a touch of sweet, then boom pour on spicy deluxe it hits the tongue. The finish is long lingering spice that is wonderful! A fabulous bottle in the low $60’s

Wish I had known the proof before I put down the fist taste. Spicy and fiery before an ice cube. Sweet! Still hot. Classic rye but nothing more or less.