Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey (750ml)

Located in small town Purcellville, Virginia, Catoctin Creek has an outturn dominated by rye, a nod to the State's earliest whiskey-making traditions. To celebrate their tenth anniversary, they released Rabble Rouser. It employs the same 100% rye mash bill recipe as Catoctin's Roundstone Rye, but is distilled at a lower proof for a fuller flavour. According to the proprietors, it allows more rustic notes to emerge from the pot stills. This is also bottled in bond, which means it's distilled in one season after four years of aging, their oldest offering to date. A sweet, soft and oily rye that barely shows its alcohol, this whiskey also defies its relative youth with a delicious melting pot of chocolate, candied fruits, caramel and toasty oak, balanced out by sprinklings of baking spice and muddled mint. If you enjoy Sazerac's entry level offering, you should love this. 50% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The nose kicks off with rye grain and grape jelly, setting the stage for a palate that’s both fruity and spiced. Cinnamon babka intermingles with red berries, and while it’s light on its feet, there’s a certain richness here that keeps you coming back for more. More tempered spice on the finish, which stays fresh thanks to ripe berry sweetness and vanilla bean. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com

"Cocoa powder dusted chocolate truffles lead on the nose, along with a strong component of rye spice, and spearmint. A rich, chewy palate showcases dark chocolate pretzels and salted caramel, with dry oak and baking spices. The finish is full and meandering, with cedar wood, menthol, chocolate, and spice. A craft distillery comes of age in your glass." 96 points - distiller.com

...On the nose, that homespun quality comes through as honey-covered rye toast, sweet but also a little savory, with subtler aromas of gingerbread and black cherry lingering in the background. On the palate, it’s light but velvety with a peppery heat that, while noticeable, doesn’t overwhelm the litany of  other flavors. Raw honey, red licorice, cinnamon, chewy caramel, and maple syrup complement the heavier wood notes, which begin a little sharp but mellow into a long and earthy finish full of tobacco and clove. - drinkhacker.com