Crater Lake Estate Rye

My Price: $54.95

Country/Area: Oregon, USA

Distillery: Crater Lake Spirits

Proof/ABV: 93 Proof/ 46.5% ABV

Mash Bill: 100% Rye Grown in Oregon

Barrel: New American Oak

Age: At least 5 years

Nose: Butter, Spice, Green Grass

Taste: hay, butter sourdough, rye spice

Review: Using rye grain grown on their 14 acre farm in Central Oregon, Crater Lake Distillers makes this 100% rye once a year. Aged for at least 5 years before being bottled at 93 proof it has the most buttery nose and palate of any other Rye Whiskey I have tried to date. The fact that it is made in the state I consider home and handled from grain to glass is just icing on the cake.

The burn is slight but the flavor is full. The typical rye spice is present but not at the forefront of the nose or palate. Instead hay and butter lead the way. It is easy to approach for those who typically don’t like the rye spice.

My Rating: Stock it. A fantastic 100% rye that doesn’t taste like any other I’ve had.

May the miles you hike be filled with wonder and the glasses you raise be filled with whiskey.

Cheers!

Rating scale:

-Spit: Don’t bother with this one. If a friend gives you a dram of it, are they even your friend?

-Shoot: Good enough to get you drunk.

-Sip: Tasty enough to enjoy neat or on the rocks.

-Stock: I’d recommend keeping a bottle on hand.