OLD POTRERO 6 YEAR SINGLE MALT RYE WHISKEY

A straight rye whiskey, pot distilled, rested 6 years in charred fine-grained American oak. Technically, it's a single malt (single distillery, 100% malted grain [rye in this case], and pot distilled), but not listed as such on the bottle or the company website. Distilled and bottled in San Francisco at 48.5% ABV, $65 for 700ml. Tasting neat. Color is copper with average coating legs in the glass. Aromas of sweet grass, spearmint and pine, butterscotch, and raisins. The palate is unusual. Sweet malted grain, vanilla caramelized sugar, cardamon, white pepper, and a touch of bitter melon. Mouthfeel is soft and coating. Ethanol bloom starts the finish that brings the rye spices and turns dry, with menthol, citrus, brine, and sour grapes lingering. Light milk, then bittersweet, chocolate hangs around. Been 20 years since I first tried Old Potrero in its 18th century format. I know Anchor was a distillery that followed(s) its own path. And yet... the palate on this still caught me by surprise. But the more I taste it, the more I like it for its unusual flavors. Not your typical bull-in-a-china-shop rye. More of a muted malted rye that turns a little saline and sour instead of spicy bomby in the finish. But there's mint and chocolate in there too. Enjoy this as a sipper, not a mixer. An ice cube thins the mouthfeel and shortens and mutes the finish, but it's still fine. Will revisit this with some time.

Nose: floral notes jump out immediately but then give way to an undercurrent of brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup with a tiny hint of licorice Palate: really soft mouthfeel with some cream and herbal notes at the front which then give way to baking spices, pepper and oak towards the back. Finish: the spice lingers at the tip of the tongue throughout the medium to long finish

Nose: Warm and inviting with notes of toasted oak, cinnamon, and caramelized sugar. Palate: Full-bodied and spicy, featuring flavors of black pepper, dark chocolate, and a hint of dried orange peel. Finish: Long and robust, with lingering rye spice and a touch of sweet vanilla.

Spicy taste and very smooth.