Rossville Union Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye Whiskey

Total Wine Store Pick, 56.1% ABV, Bottled 2023. Nose has some traditional rye notes; lemongrass, white pepper, hay, mint, and graham cracker. Also an earthy root vegetable note that I can’t quite put my finger on (turnip? beet?) Ethanol quite pesky. Flavor improves things as honey sweetness takes center stage followed by baking spices (allspice, nutmeg, clove), toasted marshmallow(?), oak, and butterscotch. Pretty sweet for a rye, drinking more like a high-rye bourbon, but it comes together well. Not the most complex, but what’s here is quite tasty. Say what you want about TW, but they can pick a barrel. (Your mileage may vary) Finish brings rye spice, black pepper, dill, cinnamon sugar, sweet oak, eucalyptus, and fresh cut grass. Not particularly herbal. Mouthfeel is a delight; full-bodied, slick, and oily. While I’ve certainly had better MGP offerings, this is pretty solid. The decadent sweetness in the palate set it apart. At $73.99, it’s appropriately priced for today’s market. And while I might move on to “sexier” releases, I’d definitely consider rebuying this again in the future.

N: mint, pickles, snickerdoodle cookies, cake batter P: drinks like a rye to me (interested in what the mash bill looks like), balanced with some spice F: thin and a little drying, not a lot of burn and this is the first whiskey of the day O: this was part of a whiskey advent calendar (Drug City pick), so this is probably not the right place to put this review. Enjoyed this poor. Would definitely keep this on the shelf.