This was another review that I did as part of /r/bourbon's regular community review series.
West Rendezvous Rye
46.0% ABV, Blend of 16yr Barton 80% rye and 6yr MGPI 95% rye, $55
The nose is spicy and sweet. The classic MGPI dill is there but it is not overpowering like in straight MGPI ryes. There is lot of honey and vanilla sweetness as well as some traditional rye notes like mint and pepper. The taste is like the nose with a wonderful combination of sweet and spicy. Loads of vanilla and honey along with mint and peppery spice. The taste is way less straight MGPI like than the nose with very little dill. The breadth of spices is very nice as you get some of the more aggressive prickly rye notes from the young MGPI rye intermingled with the older more mature classic rye notes from the Barton rye. The finish is pretty damn long considering it is only 46% and lingers for quite a bit with burnt sugars and peppermint.
Thoughts: This rye gets a lot of praise and it is for good reason. You'll be hard pressed to find such a complicated rye or any other whiskey for that matter at this price point. This is second only to the Colonel Taylor rye as my favorite non barrel proof, non hyper-aged rye. Of course the Taylor retails for about $20 more per bottle and it's a close race so I feel this one punches way above its weight class. I'm really trying hard to be stingier with my scores lately but it would be a robbery not to put this one in the top letter grade.
Rating: A-
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