Originally reviewed on reddit: 01/11/15

This is one of the more common rye whiskies on the US market, from the Heaven Hill stable. I’d heard many good things about this one considering its wide availability and price point and had to try it.

It also quite proudly states on the label that it’s bottled in bond, which according to Wikipedia means:

To be labeled as Bottled-in-Bond or Bonded, the liquor must be the product of one distillation season (January to December) and one distiller at one distillery. It must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 (U.S.) proof (50% alcohol by volume). The bottled product’s label must identify the distillery where it was distilled and, if different, where it was bottled.^[2][3] Only spirits produced in the United States may be designated as bonded.

Aged 4 years*. 50%ABV. Mashbill: 51% Rye, 37% Corn, 12% Malt.

*for lack of age statement

Nose: Quite aggressive. Spicy, very woody spice. Cloves, Cinnamon, Nutmeg. Vanilla. Sweet clementines. Canned fruit salad. Butterscotch. Some sultanas. The rum soaked raisins (those of you who pick the raisins out of rum-raisin ice cream know what I’m on about). A bit of musty book shop.

Palate: Very lively citrus juice at first, oranges, clementines, also some peach. Then a hit of bitter wood and woody spices.

Finish: Long. Waves of spice, then sweet, then spicy, then sweet. When I burp it tastes like fanta.

Would I buy this: Yes

Would I order this in a bar: Yes

Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Yes

VFM: 5/5

Might be a bit aggressive, but it’s good at what it does. Has a nice level of complexity to it. For a whiskey that sells for so cheap you’re really getting some unbeatable value here.