Hochstadter's Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey

For something that is a hundred proof, it drinks much closer to 80 or 90 Proof. I'd go so far as to call it light and refreshing with almost no burn and a thinner body (but not in an off-putting way). Nose- caramel, fresh cut grass, green tea with brown sugar. Reminds me a bit of fake nature smell (like a scented spray), but I don't mind too much. Flavorwise- lower on the rye spice scale than some, but more than something like Old Overholt, for instance. Grassy, somewhat peppery, green and leafy. Tobacco and a touch of leather round out the medium finish. Overall- a pleasant enough sipper but lacking in depth, mouthfeel, and character. I could easily drink this when in conversation with friends or with dinner, but I'd want something more if I were giving it my undivided attention.

This is a really great rye for $35. I think it's better than HWRR as the makeup of that brand has shifted dramatically as they run out of 16 year Barton. It has more of a typical rye profile than Pikesville--which I think is great--but this is ~$15 cheaper. It can stand up to any of the overpriced Whistlepigs, including the laughable Black Prince; same with Michter's. It's infinitely better than Sazerac, which is about the same price but has declined precipitously in quality. In a crazy market it's bottles like this that prove you can still find great rye & bourbon at reasonable prices--which was one of the primary allures of these spirits to begin with.

I am revisiting this side-by-side with Old Overholt BiB - another 100 proof rye within the same price range. By comparison, the Hochstadter's is absolutely spicier: it has much more of a spicy Pennsylvania rye character than the Old Overholt - but the Overholt excels in approachability. Creamier and more bourbon-like (to be expected with a 51% rye, high corn mash from Jim Beam designed to be a transitional rye). To be clear, the Hochstadter's is still not as spicy as Dad's Hat. It has a mild sweet cream creaminess, but not much else. I like it just fine, but it's lacking in flavor and character other than grassiness. I want more from this.

I tasted this and said the words, “not bad.” Warm golden raisin, saline and a hint of citrus on the nose. Silky mouthfeel with graham cracker, dried fruit and honey. Finish dries things out with baking spices. I expected more complexity. Probably the Barrell vatted releases have spoiled me, but it’s instructive that early reviews comp this with Old Overholt. A value at $30 but def not at $60. The expert review is a bit much.

Opaque spice kick from the beginning however smooth and warm throughout. This vatted rye keeps a flavor full of unique percussions to the palate that is very pleasant infused with an old fashion. Give it to a friend and watch them tip their hat for this gentleman’s selection.

Very sweet and fruity aroma of apples and pears with a slight spice at the end. Sweet taste with fruit and caramel slight spice at the end, For 100 proof, not too much of a bite at all, very smooth and enjoyable even neat. A nice sipping rye for sure, neat.