Catoctin Creek Distilling Company began operations in 2009 in Purcellville, Virginia. Catoctin Creek makes two 100% rye-mash whiskeys, an unaged version named Mosby's Spirit, and a very lightly aged version named Roundstone Rye, which is Mosby's Spirit aged for a very few months. The two Catoctin Creek's rye whiskeys are organic and kosher. The company does not declare whether malted rye is used for the whiskey as distinguished from the use of commercially purchased added enzymes. It was unclear on my bottle of Roundstone Rye whether the whiskey was aged 15 months or 1.5 months. Both because of the color of the whiskey, and because the only two other age references I have seen to this whiskey are 2.5 and 5 months, I believe that the sample bottle from batch # B10-RR-3 is actually aged only 1.5 months in new oak.
Nose: moderate intensity sour mash, honey, slightly floral, some rye spice, noticeable alcohol, and a hint of wood
Taste: very tart spice greeting early, alcohol tastes more than 50%, some sweet rosewater,some citrus, and some slight wood flavours of vanilla and oak
Finish: Sourness remains with considerable sweetness, similar to completely unaged spirit. The wood and spice flavours actually stay a long time, but they are quite subtle compared to other rye whiskeys
Balance: This whiskey has grown on me after repeated tastings. It is subtle rather than assertive: not a typical rye profile. As rye whiskeys go, this is a delicate flower. I think that this one can only be well appreciated if it is consumed on a fresh palate and without either food or other spirits of more assertive qualities biasing the results. You have to like that new-make sour flavour to like this one much, as well. I hope that this new distillery will in time put out a more aged rye whiskey for comparison
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