MrWizard's Ramblings

Let there be rums! Thanks for Friends Charu and Shaun for the samples and SFWBSS/Holmes Cay for others.

TL;DR: Holmes Cay is a direct bottler of rums around the world. They are one of the few independent rum bottlers in US or almost certainly one of the first ones. They got plenty of good stuff that’s cask-to-bottle without any bull…

Armagnac notes:

Chateau de Pouchegu — awesome
Chateau de la Grangerie — isn’t my jam
L’Encantada Le Freche — great
L’Encantada Lous Pibous — fantastic
Domaine de Baraillon — great, kind of a soft creamy-woody flavor
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Holmes Cay samples, probably going to be little blurbs… but we’ll see:

Guyana 2010, Diamond Distillery; 11 years, 60.4%
Funky to the point of being nearly acrid. Bananas on the nose. Definitely has a lot of that weird rotting vegetable notes going on there. It’s worth mentioning again quite acrid bordering on smelling salts… Fried bananas galore hiding behind peppery front on the palate. Numbing peppers in the aftertaste that’s quite long. As soon as it hits my palate the acrid notes disappear or melt into the overall experience. Overall: Enjoyable on it’s own though I’d prefer this in a tropical drink.
Score: C+

Belize 2006, Traveller’s Liquors Distillery; 15 years, 61%
Burnt sugar candies on the nose, with a healthy dollop of alcohol. Toasted tropical fruits on the palate. Somewhat reminds of grilled pineapple that’s nearly burnt. Pleasantly sweet but forgettable aftertaste with complex and peppery spice. Overall: Tasty but uninspiring. Yet again I’d prefer it in a drink but would enjoy on its own in a tropical day. In other words… “It’s okay”
Score: B

Fiji 2014, South Pacific Distillers; 17 years, 58%
A 17 year rum, for real? Now we’re talking! Well the dry leather funk is back and the alcohol is quite sharp indeed. Bit of wood, leather, baking spices are all present. Oh… Oh. this is quite nice on the palate. Still sugary as rum can be.. there are tons and tons of spice notes, cinnamon, cloves, all spice, this is reminiscent of MGP bourbons (without the corn of course). Long, baking spice-laden and sweet aftertaste follows. Overall: Very enjoyable and quite nice indeed. I can see myself drinking this.
Score: B+

Barbados 2012, Foursquare Port Cask, 9 years, 55%
This smells great like a rye, some mint and eucalyptus on the nose. This is foursquare through and through basically a whiskey in rum form. Honestly kinda missing port cask notes other than it’s a little extra sweet. Aftertaste is light, rye like here. Overall: This is basically a high rye bourbon or high corn rye here. Enjoyable but not as good as official releases from foursquare.
Score: B+

End of Holmes Cay Samples!
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Epris 10, Single Cask Nation, Brazilian Rum. 52.6%
This spent 10 years in first fill bourbon cask #113 and distilled in May of 2011. Brazilian rum? Okay Let’s try! Funky and spicy wood varnish on the nose, not quite licorice but more mastic, a smell I typically get out of 1st fill sherry malts, though there is no sherry in this bottle. Baking spices spiked candy basically. Salty sweet palate with some licorice and chocolate notes, pine needles or pine resin for sure, tobacco, somewhat grassy, salty green olives hiding under the spice. More licorice on the aftertaste that’s not nearly as sweet as you’d expect out of a rum. Overall: This is an interesting one for sure. Reminds of me of some sort of agricole rum that St George did few years back from green sugarcane which was basically olive juice. This seems like infinitely better version of that yet still retaining some of that juniper, salty and grassy complexity hiding under an admittedly great bourbon cask. This seems like a mix of a rum and a basic gin. Would be fantastic in a mixed drink but not going to be enjoying this further than the sample I got. The more I drink it the more confusing it gets at least for my whiskey-wanting palate… Reminds me of something out of Spirit Works stills which are all juniper-contaminated. This is enjoyable… yet it’s flawed in its own way.
Score: C+

Guyana 2003, Diamond Distillery; 16 years, 54.5%
A bottling by Gregarious Grump (Kris Hart of Prideful Goat and others fame) this is a 16 year old Guyana rum distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2020 from Diamond Distillers. Ohhh (pre-emptive yum!) this thing is *dark* chestnut color. Deep sugar caramel nose, dried fruit strips (fruit leather). The palate has vanilla coke, wood, some baking spice, coffee and more fruit leather notes. Those dried fruits really come forward in a long aftertaste that eventually fades into the distant sweetness. Overall: Enjoyable but for me it feels right on the edge of being too woody… Arguably it may have spent a little too long in the casks under tropical climate. I’ll equate this to a decent armagnac… It’s definitely got those fruit notes and wood spices going on. Enjoyable but isn’t mind-blowing for me.
Score: B+

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Three Samples… Three bottles… Thanks for samples to friends Charu and Logan where applicable.

Linkwood 22, Cadenhead 48.8%
Cadenhead bottling of Linkwood distilled in 1995. I do seem to enjoy Linkwood’s flavor palate profile but let’s double check. The nose is lemon curd pie, literal citrus and vanilla curd. It’s uncanny. Malty. somewhat mellow ex-bourbon palate with good balance between wood spice and sugar in the mouth. Reminds me of a very mellow pear/apple skins with a tiny bit of spice. Quite short, but typical aftertaste here leaving a whisper of baking spice on the tongue. Overall: Enjoyable but unremarkable… This cask’s character was mostly spent on it’s previous run… while not at the level of Old Malt Casks this is somewhere between that and Old Particulars on intensity. Value: N/A
Score: B+

Exclusive Malts 23, Blend Ex-Sherry, 50%
A blend from Exclusive Malts line from 1993 in ex-sherry casks. Interesting and complex, sherry nose that is somewhat sour but leans towards the cologne notes. Sherry, malt, spice on the palate, not too sherried not too spicy not too much alcohol, this is extremely well balanced. Quite ‘meaty’ palate actually or perhaps dark chocolate galore. Waves and waves of chili peppers in the solidly medium-long aftertaste that sticks around. Overall: Really enjoying this one actually I can totally have this as a daily drinker and it leans easily into the contemplative pours too if I pay attention to complexity. Value: At $139.99 this is a solid value nowadays, but was somewhat expensive when it was bottled.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1373864
Score: A

Exclusive Malts 40, Blend Ex-Sherry, 42.9%
Vatting of things from 1977… Sure, why not! Also my own age so don’t mind if I celebrate a bit. Nose is very funky sherry, bordering on wood shavings or heavily oaked Armagnacs (looking at you Pouchegu!) Actually this is quite reminds of those woody old armagnacs from Domaine De Pouchegu. Vanilla, very dark, very old wood, flowers and dried fruits. Whelp the palate delivers what nose promises covering it into layers and layers of milk chocolate. Long, initially slightly peppery, mouthwatering aftertaste follows leaving sweet vanilla leftovers in the mouth. Overall: Okay this is a Pouchegu in a malt bottle. I’m loving it. Unfortunately it’s ever so slightly under proofed… If this was 46% this would be a slam dunk. As it is, this is as solid of an A as I’ve given out… Value: N/A Only on auction though not too expensive based on the history from few years back. Good luck getting it for less than about 1k nowadays though.
https://www.whiskyba … usive-blend-1977-cwc
Score: A

Benromach 11, Batch 1, 58.2%
My first Benromach review here… This is batch 1 cask proof distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2018. A rare peated Speyside Single Malt Scotch whiskey. But highland peat here so think sweet wood smoke. Nose is lightly toasted nuts with small iodine addition or perhaps old campfire smoke. Palate is great, sweet & nutty, slightly savory flavors with a layer of lively wood smoke in the background. Think texas BBQ burnt bits, or dry brisket. It does lean towards drying leather a bit over time. Still easy drinking, cannot believe this is nearly 60% abv! Aftertaste… just like a good Texas bbq in my mouth. Almost uncanny. Overall: Situational but oh so delicious this is BBQ lover’s dream pour. A minor nit here that I would wish that the aftertaste was a little longer or a little more complex. Of note that this is quite enjoyable for me and I don’t actually like peated whiskeys. Just a smidgeon below A-range for here, I wish it was a tiny bit sweeter. Value: K&L been trying to get rid of these for $39.99. Probably best deal in Scotch in a while… At $80 regular.. is still a solid pickup for a cask proof bottle that’s no slouch.
https://www.klwines. … whisky-750ml/1452946
Score: B+

Highland Park 13, Victory, 64.5%
Another Highland Park (I seem to review a lot of these)… This time a Single Cask Series from Total Wine (at least it’s sitting on the shelf there nowadays)… Named Victory, this is one of 608 bottles, distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2018 from a refill sherry butt #6481 and of course with quite a fiery proof. The nose is sherry galore. I cannot believe this is a refill of sherry, smoke is almost un-noticeable from nosing it as it integrates into sherry so well. The palate is sweet and slightly smoked candies, the sherry wood really shines here. Aftertaste is spices galore, with the spices and little smoke hang out for a while reminiscent of a light cigar experience and finishing up with some vanilla creamer and coffee notes. Overall: I quite like this combination actually. The proof is a little fiery for some but otherwise the experience is solid. Sweet and smoky is the name of the game without much complication and it delivers. Value: I’ve gotten it in a trade for about $120 to my door which is super solid. Total Wine has these sitting on the shelf at $209 which is a horrible price for these… Get it on clearance or something hope they give up on actually selling these.
Score: A-

Speymhor 38, Blend, 46%
A blend from 1978, aged 38 years. I’ve opened it for the birthday special pour. There’s definitely some sherry in there though overall it’s light brown, almost reddish color. The nose is quite funky, somewhat sulfuric and nearly sour, yet full of perfume. The palate leaves me in a tough position because it’s really tough to describe. Meaty, salty, sweet, oaky, little bit of sherry spices and generally a bouquet of spices are fighting for dominance here. It’s kinda like a weird BBQ without the smoke notes. The aftertaste is very complex, finally with vanilla custard sweetness coming though followed by peppers and some very dark mocca notes, coffee beans and chocolate together and even some tobacco. Overall: I really want to enjoy it… and it is enjoyable but it’s not quite what I expected out of the bottle and neither does it hit that high note for me of ‘I want every bottle of this I’m willing to afford’. A solid and very complicated drinker that is perhaps too funky for a novice and is definitely one to subvert expectations even for someone that’s experienced with whisky. Value: This was $180 from K&L and honestly it’s worth it for the uniqueness. But likely not more than 1+backup.
Full story: https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1462076
Score: A-

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Mostly Samples. Thank you friends, Charu, Mike, Orpheus, Logan!

Glenmorangie 10, 1990s bottling. 40%
Something from dusty old archives of history. A sample of 1990s bottling of Glenmorangie, at 10 years old. I unfortunately don’t have a modern sample to compare with and it’s be a while since I’ve had Glenmo 10 last time. There’s an interesting minerality and somehow… ‘warm’ orchard fruits on the nose. Think bakes pears or green apples from the oven, not quite cooled yet. Yet more of those creamy vanilla ex-bourbon notes there. Sweet and malty and somewhat fruity palate yet somewhat flat and uncomplicated. Pleasant, slightly nutty aftertaste with some baking spices finally appearing, finishing with a light chili pepper tingle and some coffee. Overall: I’m pleased but not impressed with this. Since I cannot compare it to more modern iteration we’ll judge it in vacuum of perspective. A good daily drinking but what else would I expect out of age really? Value: This wasn’t ever expensive but due to the current age will probably fetch a small premium by someone curious.
Score: B

The Macallan Edition No. 4, 48.4%
Oh, this smells like good sherry funk. The palate is full on sherry, sweet, nutty, slightly spicy profile. Long finish with rising peppers while sherry drops off. Both sweet and savory this is mouth watering in the end. Overall: This is good stuff. More or less exactly what you’d want in a sherried speyside scotch. Interesting and not bland, this is definitely a ride for the palate. If i knew what i know now in 2018 I’d probably bought a handful of these to hide away. Value: In 2018 when this came out, the MSRP was $100, currently there’s no chance of finding it anywhere less than about $200-250, even if you’re lucky. Macallan prices are in stratosphere, being beaten only by the Springbank pricing at least for the ‘affordable’ bottles.
Score: A

Compass Box (CB) Canvas, 46%
More than half of the recipe is Tomatin (the Vino Naranja making up nearly 11%) and the other single malt whiskies came from Glenburgie, Glen Elgin and Imperial distilleries. They were all aged in American oak to highlight their fruitiness…
As usual CB bottles are supposed to evoke the name while drinking them… Light orchard fruits on the nose, not overwhelming as they could be, yet well balanced. Mineral forward palate with more white orchard fruits, this case towards light side of the spectrum, green apples, pears… green honeydew, etc. Not too long, malty and unremarkable aftertaste. Overall: This is a true blank ‘canvas’ with your imagination is there to paint something on it… but… this is a also a whiskey and having a blank canvas isn’t something that’s usually done or expected to be in a bottle. Kudos to John Glaser’s team for actually making it a ‘blank’… but IMHO this is a miss for Compass Box limited editions as this is also about as interesting as a white canvas. Very drinkable yet immediately forgettable. In short… It’s boring by itself! Value: Total Wine lists these at $124.99 and as pretty packages these come in; I’m going to give this an ‘bad value’ rating. Even if I’m a fan of Compass Box bottlings this one just doesn’t stand out.
Read the details here: https://www.compassb … .com/whiskies/canvas
Score: B

Compass Box (CB) Artist Blend, @SFWBSS SiB, 49%
A Compass Box Artist’s Blend whiskey aged in single cask from Clynelish distillery here. Single Cask picked by SFWBSS. Malty tropical fruits on the nose, bananas dominating. Slightly woody, an somewhat spicy for ex bourbon palate. Few charry notes in a medium-long aftertaste on top of the expected sweetness. Overall: This is a ‘better’ artist’s blend vs the regular even if it’s just proof that’s higher but there’s not much to write about it… it’s pleasant and easy drinking. Value: This was like $50. I’d say money well spent.
Score: B+

Cameronbridge 27, Single Grain Scotch, Old Particular K&L SiB 54.3%
Another single grain! Where do I stop? Actually I’ve finished one bottle and opened next one. Charred vanilla sugar on the nose. Hard candy basically, burnt orange zest. Wood notes with baking spices, cereal butter notes, more charred orange peels. Long ginger and pepper aftertaste with a touch of sweetness. Overall: Quite enjoyable in a single grain scotch way even if overshadowed by its malt brethren. Not too bitter, not too sweet… this is basically butter-orange cookies that are well toasted. Value: This was $80. A solid price for the bottle!
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1430020
Score: B+

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Samples provided by friends Jeremy, Michael, and Meghan (again)… Or perhaps i simply split the samples from them into rye and bourbon piles to review. It’s a mystery… *jazz hands*

Hirsch SFWSBB SiB, 66.5%
Another SF whiskey group pick?! Say it ain’t so!? Actually they’ve been on a roll lately, actively picking up some decent or not so decent bottlings but the preferences in the palate of the beholder on this. This is a Hirsch reserve single cask (Yellow label) which is btw an MGP sourced product that Hotaling Inc has purchased the brand rights for. It’s not the SAOS mash bill but still MGP stills… (See what I did there?). Nose is quite intensely woody, perfumed and cinnamon forward; an odd whiff of rye mint is also present. Quite creamy palate consistency… this is MGP high rye bill isn’t it? Quite hot on the palate, almost quite unbearably so for me. Warm cinnamon, baking spices, and wood aftertaste that last a long time. A bit of water drops it down into palatable range on the alcohol yet rye notes become more prominent. Overall: Creamy sweet and quite spicy this is a rye-forward whiskey may please those that are looking for a burn, but honestly it’s rather generic. Worth trying at a bar… or friends BBQ… or fishing trip. Still quite overwhelming and fundamentally it’s also 100% not memorable… Value: This was like $80 or $90 and came bundled with Hirsch Horizon (blue label) bottle. Not a great deal honestly.
Score: B-

Russell’s Reserve 13, Cask Proof, 57.4%
The super highly in-demand Russell’s Reserve 13 years old that’s high proof and non-chillfiltered (as opposed to the 55% 10 year old ‘regular’ single cask). Obviously this is from Wild Turkey stills. Very cologne-forward nose, wood, flowers of some sort of dark and broody variety… Basically Russell’s Reserve but more concentrated on the nose, not boring at all. Flowery, woody, caramel peanuts on the palate, thankfully the roasted nuts mostly fade with repeated sips. Baking spices and vanilla on the medium-length aftertaste. Overall: Wow if I didn’t know any better I’d almost guess this was a very good Dickel, or a Dickel blend. It’s truly very good, the flower notes are both complex and not overpowering individually, there’s clearly balance between front/back/nose… Yet… It’s like drinking cologne-Dickel blend sometimes and I should note that while associate peanuts with that distillery… I’ve had bottles when it was similarly perfumed but not peanutty. Value: K&L Lists this at $70 MSRP… Extremely solid value as is with most high proof turkey products. Secondary is ~$600 (we don’t talk about secondary)…
Score: B+

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection #17 (Woodford Malt Whiskey apparently), 45.2%
This is the Five Malt Stouted Mash edition. This comes from the five malts used in the mash bill for this whiskey—Distillers Malt, Wheat Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Carafa 1 Malt and Kiln Coffee Malt. While the proportions are not revealed, Woodford reps say the percentages of these malts range from 70 percent to just over one percent in the mash bill. Lots of chocolate and some coffee on the nose. They really weren’t kidding about the whole ’stouted’ mash bill. This is quite beer-like whiskey a very strong on alcohol stout. Some wood, but mostly sweetness and roasted notes of coffee and more bitter chocolate. Quite not very sweet, but balanced. Aftertaste is yet again more of that high proof light stout notes, rather than whiskey or malt or wood. Overall: This tastes like a solid light coffee stout which is quite possibly what the whiskey maker was going for here. Worth a bar pour but it’s really more of a novelty. Effectively a stout-flavored malt. Value: I seen this in Total Wine for $120… perhaps for an interesting checkbox it’s something but honestly don’t do it unless you like whiskey AND beer together. Basically if you like a Boilermaker with stout… this is premixed for you before you swallow.
Score: B

Four Gate; Kelvin Collab #3, 61.85%
This is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, finished in PX and Rum casks. Nose is quite corn forward, though with a very slight sweetness undertone from sherry. I’m guessing Barton source at this. Fairly typical, if a little sweeter barton full proof palate. Oak, fruit leather, coffee, figs it’s all tight on the palate. The sherry and rum notes are quite subdued really compared to the spirit. Long aftertaste that’s sweet and quite smooth unlike typical barton. Some pepper spice comes out towards the end for an interesting peppery sensation. Overall: This is quite interesting Barton full proof that’s honestly tastier than the regular version. May be not a quintessential bourbon for me but a quintessential Barton. Value: This is MSRP at ~$200 holy cow! That’s bad value.
Score: A-

Elijah Craig Private Barrel, Royal Liquors’s SP, 71.05%
Oh a fiery one indeed. Hazmat! Nose is corny Heaven Hill nose, not quite as woody as ECBP but pretty close. If i recall this this 10 year old barrel. The palate is real hot yet still drinks under the proof. Probably first 140+ that I can swallow and not cringe. Woody, typical Heaven Hill profile. Quite a bit of wood in-fact that’s balancing the sweetness making it a little bit bitter-sweet like a very dark chocolate bar. Fairly long aftertaste with more wood, chocolate, sweetness, bitterness, some spice. Overall: There’s a reason most folks, including me, enjoy Elijah Craig Barrell Proof and this proves to be no exception. Blindly this really does taste like a ECBP. This is slightly concentrated and ‘unique’ due to single cask version of that. Is it ‘better’? I don’t know. Is it good? Yes. Value: This was $99… for the novelty and the proof… maybe? Honestly though ECBP is a solid value and this is slightly under that valuation.
Score: B+

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Let’s get through rye samples. Provided by Jeremy and Meghan.

Kentucky Owl Rye, Batch 2, 50.59%
A blend of Kentucky-distilled rye that’s at 11 years old at least in the bottle. Dill and licorice and very ‘rye’ nose with plenty of wood and even a bit of an alcohol kick in there, add some vanilla custard and baking spices. Extremely pleasant palate, this is surprisingly good drinking for me and I’ve made no secret of my dislike to ryes. Lots of wood, nearly bitterly-burnt sugar, vanilla galore, dark toffee. Almost no dill or off-putting notes here. Extremely pleasant aftertaste with more toasted vanilla, rye bread crust and a bit of a dill note that brings back that rye experience. Overall: Fantastic drinker with hardly anything to fault here on the trifecta of nose-palate-aftertaste. This is a small sample and today my palate may be having an off day, but I really like it. Value: Circa $200 in 2018 this is just utterly awful price… I’ve almost choked on my drink when i looked it up.
Score: B+

Barrell Seagrass, 69.97%
Finally a somewhat solid review of Barrell Seagrass, which I briefly tried before and quickly poured down the drain as at the time my palate was just not there for it. At its core it is a blend of American and Canadian rye whiskeys, with each ingredient finished separately in Martinique Rhum, Madeira & apricot brandy barrels. Other than this is super punchy on the alcohol side for the nose… I can certainly smell the apricots here. The palate is pure velvety sweet apricot juice with some rye bitterness notes. The aftertaste is more apricot sweet compote and little bit of mint in the back of my throat. Overall: I was certain it wasn’t really my thing and two times I’ve tried this before this tasted completely awful, bitter and horrible. Yet today it tastes quite fruity and tasty and sweet. Value: This is findable for $90 or less so I’d say decent value for what you get here assuming you like the cask finish, apricots, and rye dill notes.
Score: C+ (Your experience may vary)

– Side-by-Side now between two single casks of malted rye. … Why am I even reviewing these when I said I don’t do repeated reviews… Oh well, a showdown between semi-legendary Old Potrero single cask ryes. I absolutely love Old Potrero malted ryes and even have one bottle squirreled away for a special occasion. Two samples… one from K&L and one from Bitters and Bottles. I’m too lazy to look up the age on these, though in the bottles the B&B sample looked quite darker, not that it really an indicator. The notes below will sometimes be comparing and contrasting each other as opposed to regular one-off reviews. A disclaimer that I like malted ryes from old potrero so I’m certainly biased. Either of these would also be AMAZING if mixed with some good tonic water.

Old Potrero, K&L SiB #9, 61.57
Nose: Red hot bubble gum on the nose. So much intense cinnamon vanilla bubble gum here.
Palate: Malted rye, eucalyptus, burnt rye bread crust. Alcohol punch into the palate. It’s all there.
Aftertaste: Medium. Slightly tartly medicinal with mouth numbing mint mouthwash note… numbs and then numbness fades over time.
Overall: A little too light and a little too cinnamon-forward here. Arguably better of the two… but it’s a tough call that’s based on personal preference.
Score: B (NOT for everyone)

Old Potrero, Bitters & Bottles SiB #22, 64.45%
Nose: Dark caramel dusted with cinnamon on the nose. Quite woody and some intense vanilla notes show up too.
Palate: So. Much. Wood. Bordering on too much, nearly bitter palate. Pine needles galore.
Aftertaste: Dry char on the long aftertaste balanced by malted rye sweetness, spice and more pine notes.
Overall: Rather Pine-y and slightly too bitter, I’d want to argue that this may have spent a little too long in the cask… Yet I still cannot help but enjoy it in it’s own way… Still, imperfections around bittern notes abound.
Score: B- (NOT for everyone)

Old Potrero, Blend of the two above… ~63%
On a lark, I’ve mixed the leftovers of the two above… And… It’s fantastic! The lightness of one balances the bitterness of the other. This is approaching the greatness that is K&L cask #13. https://www.aerin.or … y:entry201115-213721… It’s just great stuff, what a way to wrap up a friday night for me!
Score: A (NOT for everyone)

– End

Old Pepper Rye, Ledger’s / Hard Water Store Pick, Finished in PX, 51.35%
A joint venture between Berkley Ledger’s store and Hard Water restaurant pre-pandemic that ended up in the store because everyone was sitting in place. This sourced (it’s MGP) rye was finished in PX casks and is Barrel #080917-12. You know… I’m being lazy today… Nose is stewed dried figs… Palate is dried stewed figs… Aftertaste is more dried figs with some rye dill notes but the rye is very much on the lighter side. Overall: This is basically fortified Pedro Ximenez sherry with tiny bit of a dill aftertaste. Otherwise it’s basically pure sherry. Solid drinker if you like your rye to taste syrupy-sweet and not like a rye at all. It’s basically a digestive dessert. Value: This was $56 about a year ago when it was still available. No complaining for this particular one, but overall ~$60 for a NAS Old Pepper Rye with zero transparency is about average value.
Score: B-

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown