Roaming Man Batch 10 Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey

A little background

Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey is a very limited release from Sugarlands Distilling Co. in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Nestled up against the Great Smoky Mountains, Sugarlands is a popular tourist destination who’s built their name from moonshine production. Roaming Man Whiskey saw its first release in the winter of 2016, with the first two batches selling out within 48-hours. The third release in November 2017 was gone in less than 5 hours, and by the 4th edition it was sold out in 30 minutes. Roaming Man Straight Rye Whiskey is Non-Chill Filtered, bottled at cask strength, and has a mash bill containing 51% Rye, 45% Corn, and 4% Malted Barley. This review was based on a sample from Batch 10, a 16 barrel (53-gallon barrels) batch that was bottled at 113.8 proof and aged of 3 years 6 months. The retail price for a bottle of Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey is $50 for a 375ml.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Burnished

Nose

Dr. Pepper, orange marmalade, caramel, vanilla, ripe pears, and a good bit of heat.

Palate

Chocolate fudge, oranges, cherry, coffee, lemon citrus, cinnamon, and spice.

Finish

The chocolate fudge from the palate carries through to the finish, along with notes of oak, rye spice, cinnamon, RC Cola, and lingering floral notes.

In closing

What started off as being quite hot on the nose ended up opening up into a very enjoyable whiskey. The mouthfeel is thick and gives way to a long and rich finish. The flavor profile was very balanced, with unique notes of Dr. Pepper, RC Cola, citrus, and chocolate fudge coming through. Of the 4 or 5 batches of Roaming Man that I’ve tried, Batch 10 has been my favorite. If you come across a bottle, treat yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

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