elijah craig straight rye whiskey

Smooth buttery spice

Excellent flavor and viscosity. As a new rye drinker, I appreciate the corn sweetness -a perfect mellow addition to the rye spices.

A complex rye - a cocktail mixers fever dream

On the nose: Bright, bubbly lovely citrus and floral rye just dances in the nose. It's a beautiful contrast to simple, musty bourbons that typically come in around this same proof. There's a subtle lemon peel and bubblegum mixture that does well to not overstimulate the nose. Where the nose is a bit light in complexity - the palate shines. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, charcoal and a well seasoned grill grate. On the palate: Upfront this pour is bright and zesty. Lemon peel and cardamom tingle on the tongue. Light caramel and butterscotch fades into a nondescript bready medley. Hints of cinnamon and allspice sneak in on the back end. The linger is surprisingly long with vanilla dominating. Sugar cookie can be teased out as I nod my head in enjoyment. The mouthfeel is buttery as bakery delights get introduced in a whirlwind meeting of new friends. Late in the glass grilled street corn begins to take shape and my enjoyment grows. Complex contrasts of raspberry, sweet chili aioli, and level oak provide a really interesting neat sip. Though those notes together sound odd, they present more like a carousel - not quite mixing together, but their own distinct experiences to be pulled from at will. Drizzles of honey can be found amongst the stone fruit and Summer citrus medley. My last sip is like a Summer cookout; light effervescence of a can of Sprite mixes well with a slightly savory suggestion of barbecue chips. Mm.