Age is readily apparent, not as weariness, but sheer intensity—like a Vise-Grip handshake from an old man. The flavors come in rapid waves, first on the nose with pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, sassafras, cassis, licorice, orange peel, and menthol-like hints of solvent. Then chewy fruit and drying oak harmonize on the palate, the dark berry fruits playing off the refined oak with its cedary spice. The drying finish echoes of rustling autumn leaves and plum skins. Exquisitely balanced and muscular.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Spring 2019)

A blend of three rye and three bourbon barrels ranging from 10 to 33 years old. Powerful and mouth-coating. Initially, a French bakery, with caramel, vanilla, and torched brown sugar dominating. Then, more complex notes, such as cinnamon roll, coconut, chocolate, slight hints of oak, allspice, hints of smoked paprika, chipotle, roasted almond, and Polish sweet bread. A long finish offers fruit and nutmeg. Tasty sipper at the perfect proof.

Reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Spring 2017)

Concord grape juice, leather armchair, cola syrup, iced tea, roasted pecans, and furniture polish on the nose. The palate is deeply fruity, with cooked cherries, blackberries, Concord grape jelly, Coca-Cola, dark chocolate, silky baking spice, and white pepper, with a lush and velvety texture. A complex finish of bitter chocolate, peanut shell, Dr. Pepper, and leathery oak rounds things out.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2019)

A soothing bourbon, with maple syrup, blackberry preserve, polished leather, roasted nuts, marzipan, vanilla toffee, dusty dates, subtle tobacco, and a hint of pedro ximinez sherry. Soft, flavorful finish. The oak is kept in check, with layered sugars and fruit for balance. The price of admission is steep, but this whiskey is very satisfying.

Reviewed by: John Hansell (Spring 2013)

Exudes a tantalizing and heady aroma of baking spices, crème brûlée, and toasted oak, with Nilla Wafers and Jordan almonds lending confectionary notes. The oily mouthfeel and chewy viscosity are powerful yet balanced, as the lovely caramelized sweetness of grilled pound cake meets blackberry, lemon oil, ginger, and flickers of allspice. Focused and seamless in its rich tapestry of flavors. Editors’ Choice

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2019)

It packs a beautiful nose, with arcs of chocolate, vanilla wafer, cherry, caramelized brown sugar, baked pears, crème brûlée being torched, and coconut. These notes become concentrated and are complemented by cola, tobacco, spice, toffee, and pepper. Then hazelnut and vanilla coat the mouth, sitting there for a couple of minutes until the end—a supremely long finish. What complexity!

Reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Spring 2018)

Complex and complete, the sweet and chewy aromas of maple syrup and crème de marrons meet milk chocolate and Andes Mints. On the palate, the intense layered sweetness of vanilla, crème brûlée, pecan pie, butterscotch, and honey is tempered by chili spice and deep earthy notes of leather and tobacco, before toffee and baking spices carry into the long finish.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2019)

This smells of rich toffee and caramel draped over leathery oak, and warm apples, with a touch of paraffin that evokes age. The body is quite generous—full and creamy—as flavors of maple candy and chocolate-covered cherry are nicely punctuated with red-pepper spice. Dense fudge-like flavors and lively citrus oils lead to a finish of black pepper and baking spices.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Winter 2018)

There’s evident age here, with dried leaves, old suede jacket, and dusty oak at the forefront, but underlying that maturity is plenty of dried fruit, figs, and cola. It pours broad and mouth filling, exuding both power and grace as it delivers caramel, tobacco, and a mélange of baking spices—cloves and nutmeg. The solid wood structure and oak tannins are here in abundance, but never out of balance.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2018)

Sharp and spicy on the nose, with slowly emerging notes of grape jelly, wild strawberries, earthiness, oak, and new leather. Jammy and fruity on a palate that is lightly spiced and offers cinnamon-covered baked apples, gingersnaps, brown sugar, coffee, and cracked pepper. A mid-length finish completes the ride with spicy notes of chicory, camp coffee, dark chocolate, more cinnamon, and light pecan nuttiness. Tasty and pleasurable—smooth and pronounced flavors.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

A rush of fresh herbs on the nose, making way for sweeter notes of cola, milk chocolate, and caramel, balanced against licorice, tobacco leaf, and leather. A bright, spicy, and warming palate, with water bringing out fresh cherries, vanilla, fragrant oak, cedar box, and spice. A long, smooth, and chocolaty finish, lightly spiced with the flavorful bitterness of an espresso ristretto, all combining to create a classic bourbon profile.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Initial fruit aromas play host to a savory medicinal note, like cherry cough drops or Robitussin, hinting of the formidable flavors to come as this dense whiskey unleashes waves of black cherry soda, chewy figs, stone fruits, citrus zest, and a cascade of bright vanilla on the rolling finish.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2019)

Released in the spring of 2016. True balance and consistency from nose to finish, showing toffee, saltwater taffy, cinnamon Jolly Rancher, crème brûlée, nutmeg, toasted pecan, chocolate, fruit, delicate spice. Hints of pear, peach, and apple. I love the coffee and hazelnut on the long finish. I wonder if the taste would improve in the 107 to 111 proof range. As it is now, this is a must-have sipper.

Reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Summer 2016)

On the nose, a tapestry of candied fruit, dark caramel, and molasses. Then it’s herbs, ocean air, oak, fruit, roasted peanuts, pecan pie, and pie crust in the oven. Nuanced vanilla appears, but prominent black licorice, leather, burnt pumpkin bread, and tobacco dominate toward the end. A decently long finish gives a strong hint of bread pudding. This is definitely not your typical rye, but it sure is tasty.

Reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Summer 2017)

Gorgeous dried apricot, peach cobbler, vanilla custard, plus a hint of cherry-flavored pipe tobacco. Rich, layered, and rounded caramel, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice. Then earth, and lots of it, over a slightly chewy mouthfeel of caramel chew and Red Hots cinnamon candy. Medium finish counters wonderful bouquet and palate notes, but still lovely for sipping.

Reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Spring 2017)

At first, it’s truly American candy: melted chocolate-covered almonds and coconut. Then, it’s cinnamon, toffee, butterscotch, gingersnap cookies, red pepper, and Rice Krispies. This mouth-coating offers lingering baking spices throughout. A drop of water offers even more complexity, with pronounced caramel chew notes developing. With or without water, a complex and long finish awaits with hints of jalapeño chocolate.

Reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Spring 2018)

This rye has a lot going on. The palate ranges from herbs, caramel, cotton candy, honeysuckle, and rose petals, to chocolate, malt, black pepper, honey, and slightly burnt pizza crust. The whiskey sits on the palate, richly giving red fruit and pepper spice with a slight hint of banana on the end. The taste is magnificent. If the medium finish was just a little longer, this would venture into greatness.

Reviewed by: Fred Minnick (Summer 2016)

Highly nutty on the nose, with almond croissant, pistachio macaroons, and peanut brittle, alongside dried raspberries, cherry, and varnished mahogany. There’s more red fruit and sweet nutty flavors on the palate; strawberry hard candies, root beer spice, confectioners’ sugar, and, with water, notes of lemon cookies and a pleasant bitterness. Maple syrup, caraway, and rye spice on a finish that is a bit lacking in length. Water helps open this up.

Reviewed by: Ted Simmons (Winter 2021)