Distilled in Virginia by Catoctin Creek, this Roundstone Rye is made from 100% rye, sourced locally ‘whenever possible’. Then aged in new Minnesota white oak casks before being bottled at 80 proof (also known as 40% ABV).
Appearance: Foster’s amber. Plenty of teardrops and sporadic thin legs. Quite a thick swirl line and a semi-viscous film.
Nose: A definite ethanol wave, more evident than I was expecting. Heaps of plasticine and plastic notes, rye spice and honey nut cornflakes.
After a while, some traces of fruit appear in the form of red apples and non-descript berries.
Some sweeter brown sugar-dusted pastry aromas emerge later on.
Palate: A buttery arrival, the ABV is far less evident than on the nose.
The plastic notes are consistent with the nose, I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Vanilla, honey, nutmeg, icing sugar and orange zest.
After a time, there is a gentle building of peppery heat.
Finish: Short to medium. Some icing sugar really on, the orange, vanilla and some cinnamon last the longest, but that’s not long.
Overall: Not for me I’m afraid. That plasticine element is very off-putting.
