In this episode of the Spirits Blind Tasting podcast I'm doing a blind tasting of the Kentucky Peerless Rye Whiskey & Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Whisky. Feel free to follow along with a dram of any of these or any other spirit you enjoy as I try to uncover the aromas and flavors of these 2 spirits.
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My tasting notes from this episode can also be found below:
Spirit A - Kentucky Peerless Rye Whiskey (54% ABV)
Appearance
- Clarity: Clear
- Intensity: Medium
- Color: Amber
- Suggested texture: High viscosity
Nose
- Condition: Clean
- Intensity: Medium
- Aroma characteristics: Sweetcorn, toffee, vanilla, honey, fresh orange peel, hints of malt, cinnamon, cloves, hints of gingerbread, dry toasted oak, floral notes
- Other notes: A lot of aromas present. Not a lot of ethanol on the nose, feels quite soft but yet very clear aromas. Has a dryness to it. Classic bourbon characteristics.
- ABV: 45%-50%
Palate
- Sweetness: Dry
- Texture: Mouth filling, warming, high viscosity
- Intensity: Pronounced
- Flavor characteristics: Caramel, peppercorn, cinnamon, cloves, gingerbread, coffee beans, dried orange peel, burnt toast, charred oak, floral/fragrant.
- Other notes: Has a little bit of burn going down
- Finish: Long and complex (cloves, coffee beans, orange peel, floral/fragrant)
- ABV: ~55%
Conclusion
- Quality level: Outstanding
- Blind guess: High rye bourbon, 8-10 years, maybe Four Roses
Spirit B - Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Whisky (45% ABV)
Appearance
- Clarity: Clear
- Intensity: Deep
- Color: Gold
- Suggested texture: Medium viscosity
Nose
- Condition: Clean
- Intensity: Medium
- Aroma characteristics: Fresh lemon peel, over-ripe bananas, vanilla, butterscotch, gummybears, gingerbread, hints of fresh grass
- Other notes: Completely different nose than Spirit A. Much sweeter in profile and more delicate aromas (subdued). Could be a wheated whiskey, but has a few Rye characteristics as well.
- ABV: ~45%
Palate
- Sweetness: Dry
- Texture: Silky, sweet, Light > medium viscosity
- Intensity: Medium
- Flavor characteristics: Fresh ginger, ripe bananas (gummybears), vanilla, fresh grass, honey, fresh lemon peel, hints of fresh pear, floral/fragrant, hints or oak/char.
- Other notes: Much sweeter and lighter ABV profile than Spirit A. A little bitterness coming through at the end, but it remains quite sweet/simple in a sense that most flavors are very similar and could benefit from some more range.
- Finish: Medium with some complexity (banana, oak)
- ABV: ~45%
Conclusion
- Quality level: Very good
- Blind guess: Rye whiskey, 3-4 years
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