Very Olde St Nick Harvest Rye

A little background

The Very Olde St. Nick (VOSN) releases have piqued the interest of many whiskey drinkers. The VOSN Harvest Rye was selected from over 100 barrels that were aging in the company’s Bardstown barrel warehouse. This spirit was sourced from Tennessee as a part of some experimental batches; however, the spirit was mostly aged in Kentucky over the last several years. There were two barrels that were originally slated to be bottled last spring. Luckily, a hunch about these two barrels kept them in the warehouse to endure a cold winter and an additional six months aging in the Kentucky summer heat. This limited release was bottled at cask strength, 117.6 proof, and has a MSRP of $169.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Deep Gold

Nose

The nose is sweet and spicy. Cinnamon and baking spices shine through. After some time in the glass, barrel char, light smoke, and brown sugar begin to appear.

Palate

The first sip is somewhat thin. There is an instant blast of heat that coats the mouth, gathers in the back palate, and settles in the chest. Rye spice is the most prominent note. The second sip is silky and has a slight drying effect that is followed by a Pavlovian response. There is a candy sweetness to this rye with notes of vanilla and baking spice. The third sip brings both heat and flavor. The complexity of this whiskey coupled with its sweetness make it difficult to tease out all of the notes. Oak, rye spice, and vanilla were present.

Finish

The finish is long and pleasant. White pepper, oak, and faint cinnamon are present.

In closing

Very Olde St. Nick Harvest Rye is not for the faint of heart. Prepare yourself for candy sweetness and intense heat. This whiskey will continue to improve as it opens up. The VOSN would make a wonderful addition to any bar. If you prefer bourbon to rye, then you may want to consider other options. On the other hand, if you enjoy sweet heat, then the VOSN Harvest Rye is for you!