Vintage Rye 23 YO

Vintage Rye 23 YO, 47 %

Vintage Rye 23 YO

Here's an odd one. The company Kentucky Bourbon Distillers rarely releases any product with their own name on the label. They usually release their whiskeys under labels such as Willett, Rowan's Creek, Corner Creek, Noah's Mill, Old Bardstown, and Johnny Drum.

The Vintage Rye 23 YO has a retail cost of about USD 90.

Nose (21/25): Polish wax, furniture polish, oranges, ripe bananas, dark caramel and red berries. Soft and slightly dusty. Quite sweet.

Taste (18/25): Wow, I was really blindsided by this one! Dark chocolate (think 90 % at least) - very dark, dry and bitter! Massive amounts of tannins. Maple syrup, salt, aniseed, bananas and pepper.

Finish (18/25): Dark chocolate still, but a bit nicer now. The bananas are still here, and there's a hint of sweetness (thank goodness!), which makes this a bit more drinkable. After a few sips I get a distinct feeling that I have sipped on after shave. I feel a bit numb. It feels as if it has a much higher ABV than 47 %.

Balance (17/25): Not very balanced at all, way too heavy on the wood influence for me. The nose was pleasant enough, but to taste it was too heavy handed. I believe this should have been bottled at least a couple of years earlier.

Score (74/100)

Image from The Whisky Exhange.

Thanks to Steffen for the kind sample. It was great fun, but not quite to my taste.

Sláinte! - Thomas