Templeton Rye 10 Year Reserve Single Barrel

I made the mistake of opening this one a three weeks ago, after I’d already had two pours of Maker’s Mark BRT-01 and a pour of Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength. My wife had been out to a friend’s birthday party and I had spent the evening watching the terrible adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time with my kids. We had recently finished the book, which they loved. And honestly, the loved the movie, and I thought the book was subpar and didn’t live up to its reputation and the movie was abysmal. She got home as we turned toward watching the Netflix adaptation of Lemony Snicket, which we’d also read, and once the kids were in bed, I started to pour and watch. Now, the movie I chose for myself was called Possession. And that’s strange-ass 1980s movie that’s difficult to find on either DVD or Blu-ray and it was showing on the horror streaming service Shudder. The movie was about a marriage in dissolution for the first hour. Then the second, it becomes this creature feature, and there’s some weird undertone of East/West Berlin and spies, and it had that feeling of a David Lynch movie before David Lynch was big where you need to examine it closer and rewatch it to really get it, and it’s compelling, but you’re kind of trying to hold onto the plot and lost at the same time your first time through. All of that is my long way of saying, one of my favorite things in the world is to put on a horror movie and pour some whisky, but I can’t say that while the horror movie is playing, I’m making good choices about my pours or even paying too much attention to them. The Templeton 10 is an early whisky—in retrospect. It’s a first whisky of the night. I shouldn’t be a later whisky or a last whisky. This in large part is owing to how soft it is. Now soft here should not be confused with lightweight. I’ve been out of the game for a week and a half here because I’ve had a cold. Took a COVID test, it was negative, but for the first three nights, it was like little devils were poking tiny knives in the back of my throat. I couldn’t sleep. I don’t really get chest colds. I get throat colds. I don’t lose my sense of smell. I lose the ability to swallow. I lose the ability to speak. It’s a downer, and during that time the only alcohol I consume is 10% and goes by the name of NyQuil baby, can you dig? Big N, small y, big fu@king Q for all you Denis Leary fans. But now I’m back, and tonight, I polished off my Bruichladdich Barley Islay 2013 first, threw on 2016’s Terrifier, and followed the big Bru up with a doe of Templeton 10 Year Single Barrel Rye 104 Proof. The 104 Proof there is important to mention because when you crack this, it doesn’t drink like 104 proofer. It’s more like an 86er, which again doesn’t mean bad. Recovering from the cold, I’m not sure how much I trust my nose, but there’s this soft mixture of minty caramel. I get the sensation of skiing down the slopes of Zermatt to arrive at the lodge and throw back a few salted caramel Toblerone, if you know what I mean and on the palate these aromas become flavors with the addition of Toffee and bergamot. This is the whisky you want if you find Alberta Premium Cask Strength both alluring but too strong and too harsh, the whisky you want if even Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye is a little too much, the whisky you’d like if you’re thinking while you drink Knob Creek Single Barrel Rye, there’s something here but it’s still a bit too much. It’s like adding an ice cube to those and letting it melt only it’s still room temperature after the ice cube melts. It is essentially a long deep French kiss of a rye, the kind of gentle lullaby put me to sleep draught you would like from a lover’s lips. Oh this is good and it’s strong, but it’s not so strong it overwhelms you. It’s the rye version of water lapping at a sharp stone until it smooths off the rough edges. Get what I’m saying? The most recent strong proof rye I’ve had was the Stellum, and this is better, though it’s subtler and a little more expensive and the finish here isn’t as lingering, but I’m not sure that matters. I think the subtlety here over the others I’ve mentioned results from the aging, since the others I’ve mentioned don’t bear age statements. I’m not sure I’d tell you to seek this out, but if you come across it don’t pass it up. At $85, it’s a little steep and I’ve got to level with you, with price increases these days, I’m about to tap out at this price point and retreat to known quantities that go for around $60. I’m tired of paying top dollar for whiskies that are good but not quite as good as the price tag indicates and I can’t guarantee that this won’t be that for you. However, if you’re in for a penny and in for a pound, this may come with its own surprises. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to unpause the movie and see how Terrifier ends. My suspicion an hour in is that it’s not going to end well. But hey, I’ve had my dram and for better or worse, all road will lead, soon enough, to the land of slumber, aided and abetted by this, entirely cool and nicely minty customer.

Been a while since I’ve reviewed something. Finished my MBA up last month and have been longing to try something good so I went out on a limb and bought this 10 year Templeton rye for $90. This is what I expected it to be….MGP rye but dialed up a notch due to the age of it. Tastes damn near exact to the rest of the distilleries that are using MGP rye so if you’ve had the 95/5 rye in the past then you should already know what this tastes like. In my opinion it’s good, real good. These are single barrel so I imagine they will vary barrel to barrel so it’s an expensive gamble if you get an off bottle. Would I pay $90 again for this? Well I wish it was around $60 but I will say the bottle looks much nicer than the previous design with the paper label on it. If it was cask strength it would also be worth paying the premium. Regardless though for a splurge purchase for me it was worth it. 12/19/22

Came across this on the shelf of my local. I wasn't familiar with anything spirit related out of Iowa. The price was competitive and only 2 bottles remained at the time. So I took a chance. Very satisfied with my decision. The nose was intriguing with a mix of vanilla, apple, and floral characters. Upon tasting, I was impressed how smooth this liquid went down considering the 104 proof. In addition, the rye was tastefully done. It came off just a tad spicy, but not over the top. Surrounding the rye was a pleasant combination of nutmeg, honeyed sweetness, and subtle oak. The finish was fairly long and somewhat dry. It contained an essence of caramel/butterscotch. The mouthfeel erred on the oily side. IMHO this was money well spent considering the experience I had and the quality contained within. I will definitely stretch this one out and see how it develops over time.

Barrel 3428 Aroma- very unique aroma profile here. Green apple mixed with mint tooth paste. As it opens I’m getting more cocoa powder coming through. Blend of floral notes and spices …. Potpourri-like. Again very unique. Taste - Chocolate up front with an nice burst of rye-spice profile. Mid palate hits with sweet notes of caramel and honey. Slight dill on the finish. Overall - At 104 proof the finish is longer than expected. This is quite an impressive rye for me to be honest (especially for a 95/5 which I find some to be a little abrasive). The way this rye ebbs and flows between spice and sweetness is awesome.

The nose starts with creamy, floral rye that has a touch of bubblegum. Charred oak blends in nicely with smooth notes of vanilla and faint ripe fruit. The palate is somewhat dry and ignites a burst of pepper and cinnamon, with pronounced notes of rye spice. Sharp charred oak is right alongside it on top of creamy undertones. The finish is long and spicy with rye lasting until the next sip. Fruit rounds it out as you chew, with charred oak reminding you its there. This is a total rye spice bomb and does it wonderfully. A stunning whiskey that has all you could want in a rye.

Nose: very herbal nose but also sweet. Similar to M10 rye. Palate: great flavor. Strong rye but it’s not hot at all, only spicy. Pretty oily mouthfeel and not much sweetness. Overall, a decent rye I think. Finish: rye lingers a long time but it’s subtle. Not like you breathe fire with some ryes. Overall: well done I think. Not super complex and not overly “rye”. Good finish leaving you to want another sip rather than wait 5 minutes