Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 11 Years
55.3% ABV
$130
Website
What the Producer Says
Straight Rye #1
Released: September 2017
11 YEARS OLD
110.6 PROOF / 55.3% ABV
The nose on this rye has elements of sweet pine, honey, nougat, vanilla, cloves and lavender. Oaky undertones, subtle cedar saw dust or fresh split cedar.
What Gary Says
Nose: Herbal spice, anise, cloves, mint, citrus with grilled peaches and a bit of root beer.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, rye spice with cinnamon, orange zest, lime sour candies, cloves, bit of mint and root beer.
Finish: Moderately long with citrus tending towards lime, mint and fading spices.
Comments: Full disclosure – I’ve never been a fan of this brand. When they came out in 2014 as bourbon was really getting crazy (or so I thought at the time), the lack of transparency and price seemed to me to be designed to just take advantage of the craze over limited editions. I’m sharing all of that because when I saw Richard provided a sample of their rye (which I’d have never bought), I was prepared to find it ridiculously ordinary and overpriced. Can’t say it isn’t overpriced (over $10 a year), but far from ordinary. This is a really nice, strong spice rye. While they don’t disclose the mash bill, nothing ‘barely legal’ here. A bit of water brings out more root beer and cotton candy on the nose, and amps the root beer notes on the palate.