Oak & Eden Rye & Spire - Charred Oak

So looking at my last couple of reviews I’ve been doling out 4+ ratings like candy, so lest you think I find everything amazing time to review something that is not so much as my exploration of the Oak and Eden line continues… My second review of this offering, this time a Total Wine Store Pick coming in at 116 proof. Nose: ok “charred oak” is right, so much so it’s hard to get other things out it. Luckily for this rye I like smoky/char aromas and flavors; smoke, charcoal, burnt ends barbecue, and a hint of rye spice and pepper. Aroma is definitely powerful and low on ethanol so yay for that. Palate: like the nose, charred flavors rule here. Burnt sugars like you’d find on top of a creme brûlée (minus the custard underneath) ash, smoke, and bitter scorched oak. Nothing smooth or refined about this one; it’s the whiskey equivalent of a donkey kick to the teeth. Finish: Oh man, we’re going downhill fast. Hints of mint and eucalyptus followed by…you guessed it…more char. The mint has a medicinal quality reminiscent of toothpaste. It’s actually pretty long, but you definitely wish it was shorter. Prickly heat. Mouthfeel is grainy like 40 grit sandpaper and is bone-ass dry. This is the kind of whiskey I picture Clint Eastwood pulling out of his pack in an old Spaghetti Western; strong, harsh and biting. I’m almost certainly giving this too high a rating, but as I said I kind of like charred smokey flavors. This is like a Balcones without the brown sugar sweetness and full, oily mouthfeel so therefore nowhere near as good. Worse than the 90 proof non-store pick version, which is a little bizarre. At $55, it’s an epic fail and while I didn’t totally hate it, I bet most people would.

My exploration of the Oak & Eden line and “is the spire a gimmick?” continues… Nose has a light herbal/mint with additional notes of lemongrass and ginger snap cookie. I’d be remiss in not mentioning the color, which is very dark for such a young rye (about two years from what I understand) Palate opens with more caramel and vanilla than expected. Maybe a hint of oak right before the finish but honestly I struggle to get much more out of the palate as a whole. Bizarre. Finish is pretty delightful with fruit cake, chocolate mint, light rye spice, oak, and char but it’s more like the char you’d find on grilled piece of meat than the inside of a barrel. I’ve honestly never had a whiskey with such a boring palate but such an interesting finish. One drawback is it’s shortness. Mouthfeel has a little bit of silk to it which is very welcoming. Body on the lighter side of medium. Overall I kind of enjoyed this but it’s a bit of an outlier; this is in no way a traditional Kentucky rye or 95/5 Indiana rye. At $50 for 90 proof I’d have to say it’s value is no more than “ok”. Don’t see myself buying another, but again starting to believe the whole spire thing might be more science than fiction, as it definitely imparts something unique.

Nice nose of chocolate cherry and salted caramel, fruitful and complex. The taste is rather different. Tastes of burnt wood and dark malt notes. At first, reminded me a bit of drinking a stout with a thick moutfeel. Makes a fantastic old fashioned when using Fee Brothers orange bitters.

1st tasting : Nice vanilla in the start with a touch of leather with usual rye peppery finish. 2nd tasting 3 days later: The wood spire has changed the whiskey a bit. Getting a little more leather and spice in the nose but more vanilla and caramel throughout on the palate

2nd O&E expression: Again this isn’t a bad offering it is just light. The minty/herbal Rye nose is present but is muted. The mouthfeel is also a bit thinner but this is a fine whiskey if offered to you or if received as a gift - I just wouldn’t seek it out.

Not my preference as a neat sipper. Very good in a Manhattan. Absolutely excellent in a Boulevardier. .75 campari, .75 a good sweet vermouth, 1.25 Rye & Spire, orange peel.