Tasting XIV: Best of Rye!

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The second in a series of "open bottle" tastings...this one "Best of Rye!" We both brought four rye winners from previous tastings. John might have brought one for our guest taster...Howard! Fuggles was a no show! Does Fuggles not like rye?

Attending: John, Ryan, Marya and Fuggles Howard!

Usually we do this as blind as possible. Being a "best of..." we could probably surmise what the other was bringing... Still, Marya poured in another room. Then I mixed them up. Then for no really good reason, we put them in smell order. We didn't know what anything was until it was all over.

The Lineup

Pre-Taster

We always have a known "starter" whiskey to open up the palate. This time we had three!

  • Hudson Maple Cask Rye (R)
  • I brought this to a tasting awhile ago. It was pretty bad. And no maple flavor...so I dumped some maple syrup in it, shook it up and forgot about it. Now, it's not too bad. Maybe a little TOO sweet...

  • Lock, Stock and Barrel 16 (J)
  • John loved the 13 year old. It makes an appearance below. Unfortunately, this has the distinction of being the only whiskey John has ever returned. Not totally terrible, but definitely not worth the price.

  • Hochstadters Rye (H)
  • From the people who brought us Lock, Stock. It's probably alright. Don't really remember at this point.

Round One

Ryan
  1. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  2. Redemption Rye
  3. Corbin Cash Rye
  4. Collingwood 21
Marya
  1. Redemption Rye
  2. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  3. Corbin Cash Rye
  4. Collingwood 21
John
  1. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  2. Redemption Rye
  3. Corbin Cash Rye
  4. Collingwood 21
Howard
  1. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  2. Corbin Cash Rye
  3. Redemption Rye
  4. Collingwood 21

Rendezvous Boulevardier and Redemption Rye moved on.

Howard and Marya though this was the stronger round. Collingwood couldn't hang on with the higher proof stuff...

Round Two

Ryan
  1. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  2. Lock, Stock 13
  3. Whistle Pig Boss Hog
  4. Russell's Rye SB
Marya
  1. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  2. Whistle Pig Boss Hog
  3. Lock, Stock 13
  4. Russell's Rye SB
John
  1. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  2. Lock, Stock 13
  3. Whistle Pig Boss Hog
  4. Russell's Rye SB
Howard
  1. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  2. Lock, Stock 13
  3. Russell's Rye SB
  4. Whistle Pig Boss Hog

Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year and Lock, Stock 13 moved on.

John and Ryan thought this was the stronger round. Marya only thought one should move on!

Winners' Round

Ryan
  1. Redemption Rye
  2. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  3. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  4. Lock, Stock 13
Marya
  1. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  2. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  3. Redemption Rye
  4. Lock, Stock 13
John
  1. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  2. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  3. Redemption Rye
  4. Lock, Stock 13
Howard
  1. Smooth Ambler Rye SB 8 Year
  2. Redemption Rye
  3. Rendezvous Boulevardier
  4. Lock, Stock 13

It was tough...John's fav takes a dive!

The Winner

MGP! The top three were MGP derivatives! The Smooth Ambler rose a bit above the chaf, though...

Summary

It was fun having a fourth pallete (sorry Fuggles, "meow" is not helpful!). I still think I'm more a bourbon guy, though...ryes all seem to have a similar nose and narrow flavor range to me. John and Howard most likely disagree. Oh, Fuggles did finally show up, the little...