As I have matured in my appreciation of American Whiskies, I have certainly come to focus more on Ryes. The first time I really tried Rye, about 4 or 5 years ago, I thought it was a bit too strongly flavored. I no longer think so.
I am not sure why that is.............I have speculated on the fact that as I grow older (I was born in 1849, in honor of Old Fitzgerald 1849, even if it wasn't available then, I knew it would be some day, thus making me 158 years old........I need to call Guiness Records tomorrow about that), I seem to be gravitating toward stronger flavors, but I have always had somewhat an affinity for them.
Be that as it may (and pardon the above digression........younger folks are much more drawn to pictures and 'sound bites', while an old bastard like me prefers the power of the written word.............I know John Lipman, Mike Veach, Gary Gillman, bunghole when at his best, Tim (TNbourbon), MikeK, and even Chuck Cowdery can appreciate that anachronism, since they are often likewise afflicted).
Today, come I to speak at Ceasar's funeral, he was my friend, faithful and just to me...........oops, I seem to be having a flashback here.
Today, come I to discuss and sip 4 (four) well known rye whiskies. They are Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, Sazerac Rye (6 year old sometimes known as Baby Saz), Wild Turkey Rye, and Black Maple Hill 18 YO Rye.
I do not have the older Saz, or Rittenhouse, but I do have Old Overholt but couldn't include it out of a desire not to piss my wife off by having too much whiskey. The older Saz and Rittenhouse are not available to me and the OO is 80 proof so I don't think it is quite as flavorful as the others. If you want to know what I think of it (by and large favorably) read my review of it.
While not inebriated, since my vet and I have proscribed more than a small sip at a time, I am enjoying myself immensely as I undertake this important work!
VAN WINKLE FAMILY RESERVE RYE
Nose: ripe fruit (peaches), leather, wood, nuts, spices........excellent
Taste: sweet and spicy, sweet and spicy, and subtle too, no raw edges
Finish: long, spicy that grips the throat, but never throttles it
SAZERAC RYE
Nose: cinnamon, crushed flowers, spice, coca cola.........incroyable mes amis!
Taste: of a piece with the nose......cinnamon, sweet flower nectar, ginger spice, one of those 'how did they squeeze so much flavor from the grains'
Finish: warm, but not long
WILD TURKEY RYE
Nose: fermented fruit, rich and creamy with leather and spices playing with your aromatic module........ the nose, the nose, every chef knows it is in the nose...............great flavors must be pre-validated by the nose. If the nose falters, the taste can never be great (Mike's first law of tasting).
Taste: nose and taste are in an accord here, sweetness followed by a barely contained spicy zap that has the tell-tale Wild Turkey signature bite that brings your spirit alive.........you cannot be passive and enjoy Wild Turkey Rye............it does not allow it.
BLACK MAPLE HILL RYE - 18 Years Old
Nose: soft sweet spices from dried fruit peels and crushed flower petals, leather, all very subtle, non assualtive and sublte, soothing and relaxing and..........impressive
Taste: subdued sweetness with a mild jolt of spice about mid-palate. 18 years in conversation with the barrel were productive in moderating and melding all flavors............makes you want to sit back and sip slowly so the flavors have time to unfold
Finish: Non assertive but not passive........the zing is somewhat delicate but gives up slowly
Which, for you 'sound bite' souls, is my favorite?..............all none. Each stands on its own and is entirely enjoyable on its own merits.
In whiskey, as in life, picking winners and losers is a STUPID game, don't do it. Enjoy the variety............there is no BEST of anything (that is not to deny that some things are BETTER than others), and to think there is and to pursue it is downright childish.......a futile exercise in egoism!