A OVERHOLT RYE MONO MASH 750ML

Nose: One of the most striking things I become aware of is how completely different the scent profile is from the standard Beam 51% rye mash. The A. Overholt nose is perfectly sweet, but it’s not sweet like caramel. It’s more like a molasses. Soft baking spices like ground cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of anise are all over the place. The nose is softer with hints of vanilla, broken-in leather, raisins and freshly spread mulch. There’s also a tiny bit of citrus that I start to pick up on halfway through nosing the dram. Palate: I’m really impressed with how different this rye tastes from almost any other non-craft rye whiskey on the market today. Rye bread with a hint of earthiness give the experience of something different. And even though it’s only 4 years old, there are no harsh or astringent features to the liquid. Citrus flavors feel like they’ve had baking spices blended in with them. The woody scent of “mulch” that I mentioned on the nose makes its appearance on the palate. I have never tasted mulch before, but this has got to be the manifestation of what it would taste like. It’s different, but in a good way. Floral notes give way to molasses sweetness. At some point, I must confess that this feels like I’ve put a few drops of some sort of cinnamon/rye essential oil on my tongue. It’s got a wonderfully rich body for the proof. I’m entranced by it. Finish: For being only 95 proof, I’d think the finish would set kind of light after the sip was complete. It’s the exact opposite. It’s got a woody sort of aftertaste with lots of cinnamon and a spicy sort of sweetness. There is also a hint of the floral flavors that still linger around. The finish is not too dry or too sweet, it’s just the perfect kind of in-between.