Smooth Ambler Contradiction Rye

First impression: This is really delicious. Sweet and fruity up front - citrus apple, caramel, with some subtler rye notes on the back end. More on the cinnamon-pepper-fruit than herbal notes. I don't get any dill here. The proof is just right. Great value at $37. Really well done blend of straight rye whiskies. I hope the rest of the bottle tastes like this neck pour. Note, at roughly the same price as Pikesville, it has some stiff competition. Will have to do a side-by-side. Update: side-by-side with Pikesville - this holds it's own. The Contradiction is fruitier, brighter. Pikesville has more caramel and woody depth. Neither shows an in-your-face herbal rye profile. Not sure I prefer either significantly over the other, which I think is high praise for this whiskey. I do prefer the depth of the Pikesville, but this is definitely a re-buy and likely regular rotation worthy. Update 2: this has supplanted Pikesville as regularly stocked rye in my cabinet. The price has come down to just over 32$, so represents a better value around here. Also, Pikesville has become harder to find. The flavors are not particularly complex, but what's there is really well done.

Aroma - Pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Quite a nice balance and blend of each. There’s a nice fresh baked apple pie and caramel backbone here which I really wasn’t expecting creating a bit more intrigue and complexity. Oak is subtle. Man for $35, this is aroma is very good. Very nice complexity. Taste - (slow head nod). Really liking this… a lot. This is drinking above its price tag and that is always a huge plus for me. I remember growing up, my mom used to make fresh rye bread. This reminds me so much of that. Nostalgia. Getting more of the same spices on the palate here and even a slight cocoa powder. Apple pie again comes to mind. It has a medium finish and some sips finish longer than others. Overall - Sweet & Spicy…this is one of the best values at its price point. Kudos to Smooth Ambler for producing a really damn good rye at the $35-40 price point.

Batch 47, Bottled by Dreana. Dark golden brown color and average coating legs in the glass. Nose is sharp spice and green grassy notes, with sweet musty grapes. In the mouth toasted grain, burnt sugar, and some vanilla oak tannins. Big puff of ethanol takes over--wow--and takes you into the looong finish which is carmelized sugar, rye spice, pepper, and lingering nettles/mint tingle. A little charred oak in there too. This is a big burly rye blend that actually works, but not for the uninitiated. Good ABV for drinking and mixing--will hold its own in a cocktail as it should. Sweeter than I expected, but that's ok. Ice cools down the ethanol, but still a ton of flavor remains. Love S.A.'s Contradiction labels, and the $35 price range makes this a real deal.

Nose: fall baking spices including cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Slight woody earth coming through. Palate: unexpected fruit, some strawberries in brown sugar, figs, grainy rye bread, and a little honey Finish: finish is silky sweet with some sweet brown sugar and mint This is a fantastic rye, it doesn’t have the typical dill, heavy mint, and obvious rye spice, but is a solid dram.

On the nose I’m not getting much at all, but that’s probably me and not the whiskey. On the taste I’m getting all the normal rye spice with some green apples and some alcohol burn. There is a vanilla almost cake frosting at the very front of this. the whiskey has some legs and a lengthy finish. If you like rye this one doesn’t steer you wrong.

I am partial to this brand being from WV but that didn’t impact my rating. Has a strong cinnamon nose with some fruity ness. On the pallet you get that cinnamon from the nose and a slightly sweet initially and then you get the rye spice like peeper on the back end. I really liked this and for the price it’s a good everyday Rye drinker.