RY3 Rum Cask Finished Rye Whiskey

A little background

RY3 Rum Cask Finished Rye Whiskey from the upstart blending house Phenomenal Spirits is a Curiada exclusive. This Rye Whiskey is blended from three whiskies with three carefully handpicked mash-bills and three distinctive age statements. Together, the blend of three whiskies (American and Canadian rye), three mash bills, and three age statements add up to RY3. This blend is then finished in Ron Izalco Rum casks and bottled at 100 Proof. RY3 Rum Cask Finished Rye Whiskey has a retail price of $56 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Gold

Nose

A wonderful rye-forward nose with hints of vanilla, lemon citrus, caramel, Crème brûlée, Honey Smacks, and a touch of Cafe Ole. The nose is quite complex with nice depth.

Palate

Cinnamon simple syrup, honey, rye spice, vanilla, chocolate fudge, and raisins. The mouthfeel is very enjoyable.

Finish

Dark dusty chocolate, vanilla, and continued rye spice. There is a lingering bitter note, leaving the palate a bit dry.

In closing

The nose on R3Y Rum Finished Rye was quite pleasant, presenting beautifully complex notes of caramel, citrus, and rye spice. The palate and finish were plenty enjoyable, however, late on the finish, there was that bitter note that was a tad unpleasant. When I say a tad, I mean like almost not even worth noting, because overall, this was an excellent bottle of finished rye whiskey that I thoroughly enjoyed. Without question, keep RY3 on your radar and give this bottle a try if you find some sitting on a shelf…or just order it online here. 

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Phenomenal Spirits. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.