Woodford Reserve Masters Collection New Cask Rye

The Woodford Reserve Masters Collection Rare Rye Selection contains two whiskeys, this "new cask" straight rye whiskey, and its partner, the "old cask" rye whiskey, which is aged in used barrels. Both whiskeys are made from the same distillate, and are thought by whiskey writer Chuck Cowdery to be 7+ years old. Pot stills are used for the distillation. Unlike its partner the "old Cask" rye, this rye meets the standard US government definition as 'straight rye whiskey'. These whiskeys are the first rye whiskeys produced by Labrot and Graham distillery.

Colour: rather dark from the new wood

Body: on the thin side of medium

Nose: abundant rye Christmas baking spices, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg,ginger, black pepper. There is also wood flavour of vanilla and maple. Of all of the ryes I have nosed, this may be the most cinnamon/cassia-y. Almost all ryes move in this direction, but this one arrives much much farther than most.

Taste: this is just as cinnamon-y on the palate as it is on the nose. While the other spice flavours are present as well, the cinnamon dominates. There are good quality moderate wood flavours supporting the spice lead role. Spice lovers, like me, will love this. Among other ryes, the one this most reminds me of is a fully opened up bottle of Bulleit rye. I prefer this to Bulleit rye. The flavours here I find to be much cleaner than for the Bulleit.

Finish: the spice remains strong, as does the wood. This is a long spice trip.

Balance: while I love the flavours, their complexity lies almost entirely within the multiplicity of flavours that rye grain brings with it. Yes, the wood is good here, too, but this is a rye lover's whiskey.

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