Lock, Stock, & Barrel 13 YO Straight Rye

Cooper Spirits in Pennsylvania procured the 13 yo 100% rye content whisky from Alberta Spirits Limited in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to bottle Lock, Stock, % Barrel. I do not know whether this was aged in Alberta, Pennsylania, or both locations. I suspect this was aged in Alberta due to the age of the spirit. Like other US bottled and sometimes US aged ADL imports, Jefferson's Rye, WhistlePig Rye, and Masterson's rye, Lock ,Stock,& Barrel Rye was made to US Straight Rye specifications using only new charred oak barrels and without any additives. It is reported that the rye grain used for this whiskey was sourced in the US Pacific Northwest. I thank @paddockjudge for the reviewed sample

Nose: yes, this smells like ADL rye, which is often very fine indeed. This one shows both good dark fruitiness and good rye grain spiciness. Moderate intensity of the nose, which becomes quite strong with 15 minutes in the glass. Very good sweet/dry balance. You can smell the 13 years of age in the depth of the fruit flavour here. Very high quality rye nose. Score: 23/25 points

Taste: very piquante spicy in the mouth, more so than the nose. The fruit is there too on the palate, with some of the "dusty" quality which tends to pretty common in Canadian produced rye whiskies. For me "dusty" in rye whisky detracts from the overall enjoyment of the whisky. Older oak flavours with natural caramel are quite noticeable also. The quality of the grain flavours is very good, whereas the quality of the wood flavours is only good. Score: 22/25

Finish: long finish, with the flavours gaining bitterness and a little sourness. Still nice, but the shortcomings of the wood show a bit by the death. Score: 21.5/25

Balance: excellent balance in the nose, good balance thereafter. Score: 22/25

With water added: 1) brings out high-pitched sweetness in the nose and bundles the flavours, and 2) sweetens the palate. Water added lessens the experience of the nose for me, but is a good variant for the experience of the palate

Total Sequential Score: 88.5 points

Stength: strong flavours throughout. Score: 23/25 points

Quality: excellent grains flavours; good wood flavours. The oak is a little tired. Score: 22/25

Variety: very good selection of flavours available.Score: 22.5/25

Harmony: excellent in the nose; good to very good in the mouth. Score: 22/25

Total Non-Sequential Score: 89.5 points

Comment: well, this is a nice rye, and one of the relatively uncommon ones to be found above 10 years of age. Comparing it to WhistlePig, Masterson's, and Jefferson's Alberta Distillers US straight rye whiskey products, I like Lock, Stock, & Barrel more than Jefferson's 10 yo, but less than both WhistlePig and Masterson's. For me WhistlePig and Masterson's give a cleaner rye whisky than Lock, Stock, & Barrel. Lock, Stock, & Barrel did receive a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2014, and 94 points from the Ultimate Beverage Challenge. Yes, it is pretty good, but also quite expensive