Lot 40 Cask Strength Third Edition, 57%
Nose: Cream, rye spices, oak, brown sugar sweetness, cinnamon
Palate: A wallop of brown sugar and caramel followed by a punch of peppery rye spices, very buttery, plenty of oak influence, cinnamon and apple notes appear just after
Finish: Spices and sweet oak, quite drying
Rating: 85/100 – Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Conclusion:
I love this and I’m perplexed by the many lackluster reviews I’ve read. This seems much more like an American style rye and for the price I think it compares favorably against many of the higher rye mashbills available in the states. There’s a bold spiciness to it that’s balanced well by the sweetness from the French oak. I’ll admit that I haven’t had the opportunity to taste the previous releases so perhaps I just don’t know what I’m missing out on. Regardless, I’ll be searching for a second bottle when the border eventually reopens.