Little Book Chapter 8: Path Not Taken

Little Books 1 evaded me. 2-5 were sensational. 6 was a major, major letdown. 7 achieved redemption, and was really exceptional. I was under the impression that the 6th chapter would be the final because of the name. Now I have no idea how long this is going to go on, and I’m assuming this won’t be the final installment. Either way, I’m hoping this delivers in a big way. Nose: Black cherry and raspberry chocolate. Caramel, fudge, and vanilla. Molasses and heavy brown sugar. Salted cashew and toasted almond. Irish soda bread and toffee. Raisin. Sawdust, white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Fudge brownie with caramel, vanilla, and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Heavy rye spice and dill. Pistachio. Black cherry and gala apple. Dried apricot and fig. Cranberry. Cola. Clove, nutmeg, black and white pepper. And of course, plenty of oak. Finish: Toasted almond and pistachio. Black tea, tobacco smoke, and sawdust. Cola. Fudge. Caramel, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. As long as they make them. This seems to be an ode to Pennsylvania rye. It’s an interesting choice considering Beam has no ties to Pennsylvania, at least to my knowledge. Regardless, the rye profile is incredibly strong here, which distinguishes it from any Little Book that came before it. Speaking of its predecessors, this Chapter can go toe-to-toe with anything in this lineup. According to my notes, Chapter 4 was my favorite. It’s been a bit since I finished that and I never got to pit these two against one another, but from what I remember, I’m prepared to go ahead and call it a draw. Easily worth the price of admission at $150. Top shelf stuff. 5/5.

It’s fine. Ya know? Freddie is taking a while getting his sea legs. I’m not really a rye guy, and this is very much a rye. Perhaps some of the weird notes i picked up are from the malt as well? Idk. Saw a review for this before I opened it and he described the nose and palate to contain dill. Ever since i heard it, i cant get it out of my head and thats a majorly what I taste here. I don’t love it, but i guess that’s the game. I really just wish this series would keep it simple. Quit with all the marrying of different types of american whiskey together. Give me a straight bourbon or a straight rye. Full stop. Edit/Update: Perhaps I was being a bit hasty in my innitial assessment. After giving it a couple weeks to breath, the bottle opened up REAL nice. A lot of those odd notes i’d detected upon first popping the cork have married together in the bottle to create a much more pleasant and “LE” type drinking experience. Patience is a virtue! Give this one some time.

Aroma - Extremely big and bold rye profile here. Tons of herbs, mint and some baking spices. Love it. Some vanilla bean notes and there slightly charred marshmallow with a hint of smoke profile here that also brings the balance to a remarkable level. Taste - This follows the nose 100%. Massively bold rye profile here. Herbs, baking spices, light touch of cinnamon red hots, big rye bread note. There again is nice bitter vanilla bean note mixed with some sweet caramel on the finish that brings nice balance. Every once in s a while I get a decent bubblegum note that I find on some ryes that I personally love. Overall -Finish is strong and long with vanilla and bubblegum. 4.9

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch. Palate: Cinnamon and clove, with caramel notes and oak tannins. Finish: Medium heat that goes on and on and on. One of the longest finishes I have had. Splash: Less spice and more caramel and oak come through with a few drops of water. Overall: 9.5/10 - This is only my second Little Book, and I passed on it earlier in the year at a better price. My wife got this bottle as a gift, and I can't find anything to criticize. At MSRP, this will be an instant buy for me in the future. I look forward to next year's chapter.

Just a rye filled weekend between this and Wild Turkey Triumph. This is classified as blended whiskies, but it is a rye at heart. Beyond a 18 year old Kentucky straight (High rye) bourbon, it is all rye in this mashbill. Grassy rye spice on nose. Some baked apple with cinnamon notes come forward as the whiskey opens up. Palate on this whiskey is crazy. Way more complex then the 10yr Triumph. Cinnamon buns, salted butterscotch, and a lurking herbal note. Lasting finish with more spice and a little carmalized orange.

A noce warm begining, salted caramels, tropical fruit/ berries begin to manifest heavily, honey and then some tannic oakiness. there is an intense rye aspect to this whiskey which is nice, there is a fennel/ anise note, general herbality, mild dill and eucalyptus. the finish has robust black pepper, herbs, and tannin. first little book ive ever had and it was fantastic! Love this rye heavy blend