High West Rocky Mountain Rye 16

Batch 20I11 - 52.3% ABV Taste - (w/o water) Sweet cinnamon heat, intense vanilla, caramel, dark toffee, nice mellow sweet rye bread with caraway seeds, nice rye "bite", dark cocoa nib sweet w/ a hint of dark chocolate bitter, light cherry (w/ water) Heat is all but gone, flavors are much more muted, more oaky, caramel remains, cocoa nib bitter Finish - (w/o water) Lingering cinnamon heat/tingle, like cinnamon/cherry red hots, dark cocoa nibs (w/ water) Lingering oaky caramel, milk chocolate hot cocoa Score - 87/100 Final Thoughts - This was a very pleasant older aged rye & I'm not entirely sure where High West sourced this particular batch from, but it kind of reminds me of WhistlePig Boss Hog III "The Independent" in a way. It doesn't have that dill/minty vibe I get from some ryes but instead it has this nice mellow, intense caramel sweetness & you don't really get much rye "bite" until it hits the palate. This one definitely tames down QUICK with water, so I'd say drink this neat or add a super tiny amount of water as it fades quick. Overall this was good, but sadly not great. I'm really glad I got to try this one, but if all the release were like this, maybe I wasn't missing out on much? I mean it's a tasty rye for sure, but it isn't exactly in that "holy crap this is good" like some WhistlePig single barrel selects have done to me. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Maybe NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

The aged mellowness kinda overpowered by the rye

Blend of rye and sazerac

Best Rye I’ve ever had!!