Disclosure: This sample was provided to me by Montgomery Distillery for review.
Montgomery Distillery Sudden Wisdom 3 Year Straight Rye Whiskey, 45%
Nose: Red apples for days, cinnamon, honey, cereal grain, menthol, softer nutmeg and clove and perhaps a bit of pencil eraser
Palate: Medium mouth feel, weighty for the proof, immediate fruit notes: apple, pear, cherry followed by some honey sweetness, rye and cinnamon spices build with some mint
Finish: Menthol, medium length, a little oak and lingering baking spices
Rating: 75/100 – Great | Well above average
A true autumn rye, opening with warm apples, nutmeg and cinnamon and finishing with cooling menthol. This rye really exceeded expectations with a surprising refinement at just three years of age. Though I’d love to try a cask strength version, the palate on Sudden Wisdom had a lot of weight at 90 proof and avoided the heat often found in young whiskeys. It seems the Montgomery family is working wonders with their estate-grown rye. Perhaps Master Distiller Ryan picked up some grain-to-glass magic during his time studying at Springbank.
*Correction*: Although Ryan distills sometimes, the head distiller at Montgomery Distillery is actually Chad Larrabee
Additional Info: 100% rye mash, composed of estate-grown rye that is milled, fermented, bottled, and matured in Misoula, Montana