I have enjoyed this Rye much in the past, as have many friends. I knocked it down in my ranking after learning that it underwent fake, simulated, accelerated "TerrePURE" aging, and is just 2 months old otherwise. However, it's very different from any other rye, and good if you are in the mood for an extremely sweet, mellow rye (especially if pairing with a somewhat sweet meal). I usually prefer over even George Dickel Rye when looking for that, though Willett 3yr Rye and High West Double Rye are better ryes in general which also pair well with a sweet meal, and Knob Creek Rye and Colonel EH Taylor Rye (when you can find it) are much better ryes in general (if not sweet). My 2nd favorite of 50 whiskeys - George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel (9yr, 103 proof) is the best sweet Bourbon / Tenseness whiskey which pairs well with absolutely everything, and is a much better bet if that is what you are looking for, though not a rye. It's certainly one of the best deals in ryes, and better than typical MGP/LDI/Indiana sourced ryes from Bulleit, Russell's Reserve, and even George Dickel.
About this bottle
This product is of an unnamed distillery whose new-make has been "purified" by Terressentia Corporation with its TerrePure treatment process. The treatment is designed to accelerate the aging process, allegedly achieving the results of 4 to 6 years of traditional maturation in days. Terressentia offers large liquor stores "turnkey" bottlings by the pallet, sourcing spirits from around the globe, treating them, and designing custom labels for the retailer. Darby's Reserve Rye Whiskey, a "small batch," is a purified rye whiskey produced for Total Wine & More. By law, American whiskies must pass through new, charred oak for an unspecified period of time; however, Terressentia's website offers no details on barreling. Bottled at 45% ABV.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 4 parsed reviews.
Amber colour. Smooth and sweet but lacks depth and complexity. Will be a good sipper but nothing to brood over. Had it at a tasting in Drinx, Moscow. The regular price for it was around 27 euro, the sale price - around 20.50 euro.
This isn't Rye. It's bourbon. It ain't horrible, and it ain't good. You can drink it. But it IS NOT RYE in style nor flavor.
Tobacco flavor. Not smooth straight up.
Tastes like this
Same style and price bracket, best rated first.