Traverse City Straight Rye Whiskey
Barrel Proof, MGP Rye
Barrel # 95-N324
Distilled: 12/11/14
Age: 7.10 Years
Proof: 110.4
Mash: 95% Rye, 5% Barley
One of 186 Bottles

Damn that rye nose is pure magic! Huge dose of leather, like an old furniture store. Lots of wood on this one, deep charred oak sweetness. Then we get big spices, starting with baking spice, cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, brown butter. Then into richer territory like lemon zest, little pops of pink peppercorn, and a hint of some Italian spices. The nose keeps going with a little banana sweetness at the end.

This barrel drinks absolutely lovely with big punchy flavor matched with incredibly low alcohol burn. That combination of flavor and smoothness is everything we love about MGP rye, and this is a great example. The sweetness and viscosity coat the tongue, continuing that baking spice experience, kind of like buttery pound cake.

The finish brings back all the wonderful spices, leather, and wood. Man we could just drink this all day. Gonna have to get a few extra bottles for the Beast Lair this time! Traverse City just knows how to nail it. Cask strength, unfiltered MGP rye, 7 (going on 8) years old, incredible barrel selection, beautiful presentation with Beast Masters etched on a metal plate on the bottle and a lovely black wax top to… well to top it off!