Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye

A gorgeous, enveloping rye with aromas of dark caramel, cinnamon roll and gingerbread alongside black cherry, toasted pecans and dark chocolate. Hints of honey, vanilla bean, mint and charred bread emerge with air. Full-bodied and wonderfully creamy, with the 109-proof strength carrying tremendous flavor without becoming aggressive. Sweet caramel and cherry lead initially, followed by cinnamon, clove and increasingly assertive rye spice. Then come darker notes of burnt brown sugar, cocoa, roasted nuts and deeply toasted oak. There’s a lovely tension between the confectionary sweetness of the toasted barrel and the peppery, herbal personality of the rye underneath. Long and warming, with gingerbread, caramelized sugar, cinnamon, mint and smoldering oak lingering beautifully. Rich and decadent, but still unmistakably rye. An excellent demonstration of what toasted oak can do when used with restraint.