Low Gap 2 Year Rye Whiskey

This bottle is being revisited after having sat about 3/4's full for over a year. In that time, I've accumulated a good bit more experience with Rye whiskey, as well as Cognac and Armagnac. With that new insight in hand, I am finding this to be a much more enjoyable pour than I remember. Drinking from a brandy snifter: The nose is all cognac now, with a barely perceptible hint of rye grassiness. Stone fruits dominate the overall mild nose, with little ethanol burn despite the young age. A lot of strawberry and a touch of raspberry also come through. Underneath, I think I get a bit of corn/ bourbon/ caramel, but that might be my imagination, because I know this is ex-bourbon. I wonder if I would have noticed that without having that knowledge. Taste/mouthfeel: this is smooth and creamy, with sweet cream sweetness (a bit like tres leches but minus much of the sugar) in the front that turns into a slight rye spice burn if you hold it in your mouth. The cognac comes through, but it tastes well-integrated into the rye, rather than a flavor on top of the rye, creating a perception of stone fruit juice baked into cake, rather than layers of alternating flavors. All-in-all, I am really enjoying this, and I'm ready to go back for more.

Smells young, but pleasant with hints of raspberry, honeysuckle, pomegranate and melon At the low proof of 87.2, the young age is evident but not unpleasant. Smooth with a soft mouthfeel that reminds me of chrysanthemum tea, sea foam, white grape juice, mead and a light rye spice. It finishes young. It certainly is not worth the asking price, but, at the end of the day, it was a gift and I appreciate the atypical flavor profile.