Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Old Rye

KENTUCKY STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY - 13 YEARS OLD Until now, most rye whiskeys were 4 years old or younger. This 13-year breaks the mold as it is the oldest rye whiskey available today. The maturity it has achieved while aging is quite obvious when you take the first sip. It is decidedly sweeter and more generous than our 12 year, but with oodles of rich, almost unctuous flavors that are ideally balanced with the oak. These flavors include cocoa, dark chocolate, and vanilla extract. Rye whiskey lovers who try this bottling will never again look back at the younger versions. Spirits Journal -- Almost identical, rich, chestnut brown/bronze tint as that of the 12-year old rye, perfect clarity; this bouquet is decidedly sweeter and more generous than the 12's as buxom sweet cereal, vanilla extract, almost cocoa-like aromas gently impress the olfactory sense -- subsequent passes embellish the initial features -- the final pass, after ten minutes of aeration, add tea leaves, cake frosting, and spirit -- this is serious aroma territory; on palate, the rye enters so fully that it's impossible to mistake this for anything but an all-stops-pulled American whiskey -- the creaminess at the midpalate juncture is astounding -- oodles of rich, almost unctuous flavors, including cocoa, dark chocolate, vanilla extract, and cake frosting are ideally balanced with the oak and acid -- a truly monumental American whiskey experience that is destined to single-handedly revive interest in straight rye whiskey; heartiest kudos to Julian Van Winkle for these works of art. SJ Rating *****