Hillrock Double Cask Rye (Barrel No. 19)

Rye spice is the first thing on the nose: cinnamon-spiked hard candy hot and juicy. Beautifully oily and bitter rye character slides across the tongue on a wave of sweet caramel and vanilla. Young but in the eager intensity of rye not the clumsy heat of bourbon. Rye shines here from the first whiff to the last bitter curl on the tongue and the wood deftly sweetens and soothes. Nicely done.