Caledonia Spirits
Caledonia Spirits
50%%
NAS
Released in August 2024, this rye whiskey comes to us from the Montpelier, Vermont-based distillery Caledonia Spirits, best known for its Barr Hill gin brand. The Phyllis Whiskey brand is named after the grandmother of Barr Hill's head distiller and president, Ryan Christiansen. This edition of Phyllis Whiskey is a blend of 60% 2-year-and-8-month-old, 20% 6-year-old and 20% 5-and-a-half-year-old rye whiskeys distilled exclusively from Vermont grains. Distilled from a mashbill of 84% rye and 16% malted barley, this rye whiskey is finished in moscatel and ex-rye whiskey barrels. It's a member of the brand's 2024 Walk in the Woods collection, which also includes a rye whiskey finished in port casks and will soon be followed by whiskeys finished in tokaji and PX sherry casks.
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Super distinctive on the nose. It’s spicy but in less of a baking spice way and more of a black tea and peppercorn way. It’s dark and earthy with major leather and sort of a light gasoline character, plus wasps of smoke. After some time in the glass faint gingerbread and anise aromas emerge.
The palate is powerfully woody and delivers loads of leather, tobacco, char and black pepper, with wormwood and hints of olive and raisin.
The finish is long and kicks off with some pepper, nutmeg and clove and then leaves you with tons of bitter, gritty charcoal and a faint kiss of mint.
This rye zags where most zig. It blends spice with bitterness rather than sweetness. For that reason, It won’t be for everyone, but some whiskey drinkers will surely adore this. It’s certainly no shrinking violet, which I can appreciate.
85
Disclosure: The producer provided this sample to review free of charge, and without expectation of review or rating.
