Woodinville Straight 100% Rye (90 Proof)

Rating: 16/23 N: This is quite a rich nose. There's rye tartness in the form of sweet tarts with a bit of peppermint, bitter grass, and orange peel. I also get a waft of banana sweetness, a bunch of toastiness, a nice light brown sugar layer, and a little mellow wood. Sort of apple pie in here too. This doesn't smell very old, but it does smell like a product that was executed with intent and not dumped at too young of an age. P: Brown sugar, vanilla, tannic (yet somewhat mature) wood, ginger, black pepper, clove, peppermint, a bit more straight-up menthol, orange extract. On the sweet side, but balanced with a bitter backing. There's some pretty substantial malt character, which I suspect means that a fairly large proportion of malted rye was used in here. It's nice and rich with a good amount of fullness, especially for such a moderate proof. F: The wood remains along with a bit of varnish, orange extract, and menthol. Long in the finish I get a faint hint of banana, possibly with a hint more of something tropical. - Conclusion - This is a really solid rye. It takes the 100% rye profile and builds it into a more hedonistic dram while also maintaining adequate complexity and great balance. It's very enjoyable. I think there must be a substantial amount of malted rye in here to generate that rich flavor. This is less crisp, spicy, and herbal than Whistlepig PiggyBack, but it isn't bourbony with corn and sour mash flavors like Pikesville is either. I'm looking at a 16 to 18. Basically, what's happening here is that this is combining general rye tannic wood with tamed versions of the fruitiness of Willett 4, malted rye richness, and rye spiciness. It's a great concept and it works really well, but doesn't quite hit the mark it needs to. Msot of the flavors are a bit thin, whereas the tannins are a bit strong. A version of this bottled at 55% to 60% ABV without substantially increasing the tannins would be killer. On one hand, I'm hoping that the tannins mellow in the bottle. On the other hand, I'm worried that mellower tannins will make this too thin. The more I taste this, the more I unfortunately struggle to get past its thickness. Here's what I'm thinking: this and (well-aerated) Whistlepig PiggyBack (16/23) are actually 16s, whereas Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Rye (17/23) and (well-aerated) Pikesville Rye (16/23) are actually 17s. The Pikesville might even be an 18. This could still be a 17, but I think an 18 is out of the question. Actually, the more I sample this, the more I think it's on the low side of a 16. This seems better than Elijah Craig Small Batch (15), but not as good as Whistlepig PiggyBack. I think that those scores were properly calibrated already, so I'm going with a 16 for this.

I like how this is marked as rare on here, and yet I've seen it in almost every store in the Midwest for just about the same price. I've had this brand's flagship bourbon, and it was fairly good, right on the cusp of being something really special. I am expecting similar things out of this, but with far fewer rye whiskeys out there to compare to, I do have some higher expectations (for really no reason at all). Starting off strong with a 5 year age statement, and hoping that the rye shines strong since 90 proof isn't a whole lot to bring to the table. Medium-dark color, impressive and inviting. Honestly and truly, it's mostly just rye, as a grain, that is on the nose. Getting past this, there are some typical notes from a moderately charred barrel, but so far this is a simple offering that should be exciting, given how few rye whiskeys truly honor the grain. A few more sniffs bring out very faint essences of tropical fruit and bread. The flavor is just as "normal" as the smell was, with rye grain up front, both spicy yet somewhat mellow, and just a touch too much malt right behind it (which is strange, given there is nothing but rye on the mash bill). There is oak after the grain, but this is younger or less charred than I thought it would be from the scent, and doesn't give as much of the vanilla and caramel that would benefit this whiskey after spending 5 years in those barrels. The finish is what every rye whiskey should be: a mouth full of cinnamon and tingling gums. This could have been elevated so much more if the proof were higher, but I'll submit to say that this is indeed more approachable for a flagship product. This is a great honor to the rye crop, and a really good alternative to the other approachable, middle shelf competitors that you find in most stores. It does make me want to taste any older ryes this brand may have, but only if they are priced for consuming. I don't remember what I paid for this, but like most craft whiskeys, it was probably overpriced for what it is. Get this priced like Wild Turkey Rye or Bulleit Rye and I'd choose this every time (almost).

A sharp yet inviting nose with plenty of kick but lots of fruit and spice as well. Top notes of cut grass, yeastiness, and spicy herbs, rye of course, and mint. Heart notes of cherry and strawberry Twizzlers candy, light brown sugar, vanilla, and an almost malty honey sweetness, plus a hint of green apple skins, and a tinge of citrus. Bass notes of cinnamon and allspice, some suede and woodsmoke. Spicy and sweet on the palate. Loads of pepper up front, spicy and herbaceous like arugula. Then dessert is served with sugary fruit pie filling, cherry, strawberry, and orange marmalade. Smoky suede and vanilla fills the mouth with each inhale after a sip. Nice body, supple on the tongue with a bit of oiliness to it. Falling in fast streaks at first, it continues to drip waves of heavy droplets, each slower than the last until only a dappling clings to the glass. A medium finish both in length and intensity, quite oaky yet not overly dry, with traces of menthol, cocoa butter, dried cranberries, raisins, and dusty spice. Nose: 8 Palate: 9 Body: 9 Finish: 8

This is quite rich and smooth for a rye with a lot of woody presence. It reminds me a surprising amount of Glenfarclas 25, but with some extra sweet tarts mixed in. That fruity-sour candy flavor is unusual but pretty fun in a low-price drink. There isn't a lot of complexity, but the flavors here are quite good for a rye, making this a nice sippable drink. The sweet tarts nicely make the minerals a part of the balanced character. There is a bourbony vanilla element here that adds to the floral nature and richness without exacerbating the minerals too much. It's smooth, but not terribly creamy, sort of like an American Single Malt. It's actually amazing how much this tastes like a scotch given that it is 100% rye. The brown sugar sweetness is nice and the barrel is well balanced. This would be a great mixer since it almost tastes like a cocktail itself. A bit less mineral and more complexity would still be appreciated, but this is darned good.

My first impression on the nose was… APPLE, with a coating of caramel. There is a good bit of in rye too. (Duh!!) There was a sweet freshness to the “sniffs” and nosing that I inhaled! The taste is sweet “ Rye-Rye-Rye…with a hint of apple, and twice shy” (a song by the rock groups “Eddie & the Hot Rods” & later, “Great White”). This initial & subsequent sips/chews, the taste was…. ryes… apple…spices….and sweet freshness! There is no “Kentucky Hug” in the back of my throat and downward; but a warm, rye-spice with baking spices and cinnamon (hints of caramel too). In sum…a very, very solid drink that calls me to subsequent sips (could be dangerous! 😉)

Hot hell, this is one of the best readily accessible rye’s on the mass market. It is the bourbon drinker’s rye that exclaims “and now for something completely different!” It’s oaky, big time. But oddly so. Like all the oak, none of the tannin, none of the acrid. Just like walking through oaks, and not climbing oaks. I don’t know how they do it, actually. And the rye itself is really well behaved, and house trained. It’s like a miniature Doberman. All of these things I say, I mean in a good way, (otherwise I’d say so.) Good rye. Bring this to a party of whiskey fans. Or drink it while playing a long, contentious game of Monopoly or Risk.