MrWizard's Ramblings

Back to our regularly scheduled sample program…

J.P. Wiser’s 15, Canadian Whiskey, 40%
Another sample from friend Ross. Thanks friend. Looks like a 40% abv Canadian Blent of Rye and Grain with the only real distinction is that it’s 15 years old. Somewhat thin, yet sweet, wood varnish on the nose. Slightly sweet with maple syrup, woody palate. A rush of rye spice and then rising warmth on a reasonable finish. Overall: A Bar bar bar bar pour if at all barely. An inoffensive sipper, that I wouldn’t use as a mixer due to super gentle nature… Even the bottle says “a hint or rye spice”. Low proof and rather sweet profile without much standing out doesn’t do it much favors in the sea of interesting offerings by other distillers and blenders. Good with a conversation for anyone and everyone at the right time and place, but completely forgettable as a pour. Being inoffensive does have its benefits though. Value: Total wine lists this at $45… Price wise… It’s a fairly solid deal for a 15 year old whiskey for someone and only because it actually has an age statement.
https://www.totalwin … n-whisky/p/239256750
Score: C

High West Double Rye, Eureka SP, 49.6%
A High West Double Rye, single cask pick by Eureka!. This was finished for 8 months in Amontillado (a type of dry sherry) cask and is a single cask# 18422. For the record, I scored regular version of Double Rye not particularly high here: https://www.aerin.or … y:entry201115-213721 …
The nose is slightly alcohol forward combining rye spice and woody winey vanilla. Quite gentle for the first moment on the palate, yet spicy on the rye notes, this is full of typical rye dill and eucalyptus and yet again well balanced off by the dry baking spice. Somewhat sweet, there’s a spike of dill, alcohol, and spice in the center of the palate then it falls into medium-short finish where the sherry secondary notes get to leave their mark. Overall: The sherry brings a lot of subtle notes that are sorely needed with a lot of younger American whiskeys, making it a solid daily (rye) sipper that’s quite tasty if somewhat uneven in it’s palate experience. The higher proof helps a lot too! This could make a great mixed drink too. Value: Part of the $75 Eureka box… this is priced about right for the current market considering the box also had packaging and some swag. Compared to many other NAS ryes the price isn’t out of the ordinary.
Score: B

Very Olde St. Nick, Cask Strength Summer Rye. 59.05%
Another sample provided by friend Logan. No age statement but this is supposed to be an ‘old’ rye. The Wife says the nose is (red) apple pie, though I think it’s more of a raspberry jam tart. Anyways; it’s red fruits, vanilla, some rye spice, and a little bit of wood. The palate is sweet, almost subtle, and then the rye spice train pulls into the station. It’s full of clove, allspice, nutmeg, paprika… it’s a spice-plosion in the mouth. Almost like a rye version of mulled wine. This ball of flavor thankfully fades into the reasonably long and warm aftertaste with sweet vanilla and subtle wood. Overall: Sure, I’d drink this! It’s yet again not my favorite due to being a rye… but it’s super enjoyable. Few drops of water cuts the explosion of spice and proof to much more manageable levels. Water recommended in this one and it’s quite good after. Value: MSRP is $169. Oh hell no!
Score: B+

Brief notes below:

Templeton’s mashbill is 95% rye 5% barley across the board.

Templeton Rye 4, 40%
Nose is like a nice mellow rye. Palate is a sweet mellow rye that’s quite vanilla forward to balance out light dill/eucalyptus notes. Aftertaste is warm vanilla and is mostly missing. Overall: Skip! Unless you mix it up with something but still there are better choices. Enjoyable for that custard vanilla note.
Score: C

Templeton Rye 6, 45.6%
The other ‘Flagship of Templeton’, the distinction being shared between 4 and 6 year old ryes of theirs. The nose is full of anise, dill seed and fennel, plus some alcohol. The same vanilla sweet rye/anise mostly continues to the palate. This time a little deeper and woodier. Spicy, sweet, not too long but reasonably typical ‘rye’ aftertaste that’s enjoyable and makes the palate tingle with cinnamon. Overall: This is quite enjoyable, I’d still not buy a bottle but I’d love some mixed drinks with it or even just sip it at a bar, it’s got plenty of flavor but little ’substance’.
Score: B

Templeton Rye Oloroso Cask Finish, 46%
According the Templeton Rep the oloroso cask was picked to be quite ‘dry’ with little sweetness but more of the spice character. Sweet anise on the nose mixed with baking spices and is all noticeably toasty/woody. The palate with little sips is a little soapy/flat, but a bigger sip bring in a rush of autumnal spices, with cloves, cinnamon and cardamom dominating. Aftertaste spirals up to some of the interesting sherry spices and cinnamon and is quite long, if somewhat subtle. Overall: It’s hard to believe this is a rye… as it’s tasting different from other offerings.. but with a dry oloroso, I guess the layers of secondary notes are expected. Very nice but the slight soap note doesn’t let it rise above…. Honestly, I slightly prefer the 6yo on the primary and this on the secondary notes.
Score: B

Templeton Rye 10, 52%
A single cask 10 year rye. Nose is typal rye dill/anise alcohol but here the wood is starting to dominate. Palate is toasted vanilla and wood, quite smooth with tons of rye spice and only secondary notes being the usual eucalyptus oil. More eucalyptus on the aftertaste that’s finally long and fulfilling slowly fading with a tingling szechuan pepper sensation. Overall: I am quite enjoying this for a rye, considering this is still 95/5 rye mash bill, the rye profile is well balanced with the cask making it a good and enjoyable bottle for those that enjoy this sort of thing.
Score: B+

Templeton Rye Barrel Strength 2020, 56.55%
Last but not least is Barrell Strength version… which IIRC is also 10 years. High proof on the nose this is slightly rough around the edges version of their 10 year old. Same notes and same profile, chili flakes, chocolate, anise across the board. Less perfectly balanced, with alcohol quite noticeable here. I’d say solid Bar pour for a cask proofer.
Score: B
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown