George Dickel Rye Whiskey (750ml)

Rumoured to be around five years old, Dickel's addition to the rye category is unashamedly 'high rye' in style, delivering a heavy load of spiced grain character in a 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill. Even though it's distilled by MGP, the Dickel brand leaves its mark: The whiskey is chill filtered through sugar maple charcoal and aged at the distillery using char #4 barrels with a #2 head (the same char level used for aging other Dickel labels). Good enough for straight sipping, it's also a great choice for classic cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. 45% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Loaded with lime, grapefruit, lemon, and a hint of ripe melon—followed by bold notes of roasted rye grains. A smooth, balanced palate of lemon drops, candied orange slices, deeper berry notes, and spice aplenty. The fruit wins out, creating a soft profile with hints of bitter chocolate and grain. A long explosion of balanced spice punctuates a finish of honeyed lemon, butterscotch, and rye grain. Smooth, tasty, and well-balanced. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com

Other reviews... Able to be appreciated by both new and veteran whiskey drinkers, George Dickel Rye delivers an enjoyable experience at a fantastic price. There’s not much to hate about Dickel’s sole rye whiskey. Sure it may not be the most complex rye you’ll ever sip on, but it will deliver a sip that you want to keep going back to. In fact I found myself going back more and more than I usually do when I review a whiskey. For years I used to pass this on the shelf thinking that I’ll get to it eventually, or telling myself how good can this be for $25. I now wholeheartedly regret that mindset, because this is one rye that you’ll be hard pressed not to like. - breakingbourbon.com

2019 United Spirits Challenge, Excellent, High Recommended, 92 points