Two Barrels of Rye Hit Hollywood

Rye is once gain the hot ticket at K&L, after years of scarcity for special bottlings and single cask selections. On the back of our recent Rendezvous acquisition, the DOG just snagged two cherry MGP barrels from our friend John Little at Smooth Ambler. Get 'em while they're hot. They won't last long. His notes are below:

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #793 Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml $54.99 - This barrel, yielding a paltry 102 bottles, shows all the dusty grain that you'd expect from this Indiana distilled rye, plus tons of fresh fall fruit. Persimmon? Walnuts? Honeysuckles and cinnamon! As it aerates, the dustiness takes a back seat to the exotic wood and spice notes. The nose almost reminds me of some of the finest Armagnac. At just under 57%, it just purrs on the palate. Not bitter or cloying in any way, just the perfect combo of sweet candied fruit and drying spices. Clove infused chocolates, wood lacquer on raisins, other things. We really can't tell you how affordable this whiskey is for what you're getting. Snatch it up.

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #849 Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml $54.99 - There’s no doubt that this is full strength LDI at its finest. We picked up two casks from the excellent stocks aging at Smooth Ambler in West Virginia because they are absolutely delicious and thoroughly unique. This barrel shows much more power and richness on the nose than #793. It's darker and higher proof than its sister cask, clocking in close to 62% abv. The nose is shockingly soft despite the higher alcohol. At first nosing, it's as if someone has added maple syrup to your Peach Flavored Southern Sweet Tea! Black tea and peach liqueur anyone? Then in the background the green woodsy rye, fall underbrush, and dried spices, begin to poke through. The strong suggestion of sweetness continues onto the palate, however, moving toward more confit peach with maybe some cacao dusted espresso beans. We’re off the black tea from the nose, but on the back that spice powers back in to keep it lifted. What a special cask. Don't even think about skipping this.

DOG always makes it sound delicious.

-David Driscoll