Hochstadter’s Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey, 50%
Nose: Wintergreen, very grassy, lemon peel, lots of clove, vanilla, nutmeg
Palate: Medium mouthfeel, minty, grassy, peaches, lemongrass, touch of dill, more clove and then rye spices
Finish: Medium length, spear mint, black pepper spice, light dill, some oak
Rating: 75/100 – Great | Well above average
Tasty stuff! Drinks closer to an Alberta rye but the MGP seems to thickens up the mouthfeel. There’s a bit of a funkiness to it but it’s hard to say where that’s coming from (the KY and PA ryes are a mystery). I believe they bumped MSRP on this newer release to $60 but it still does very well against other rye options at that price point.
Additional Info: A blend of straight rye whiskeys, aged 4-18 years from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Alberta. All ryes were aged in American oak barrels with a No. 4 char. Total release of 1500 cases.
