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Shelter Point Single Cask Rye

Three Shelter Points - Part III

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@talexanderReview by @talexander

16th Dec 2020

1

Shelter Point Single Cask Rye
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    20
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    85

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Shelter Point
  • ABV: 58.8%

OK now we are on to the actual KWM 2020 Whisky Advent Calendar entry for Day 15. Selected and bottled exclusively for KWM, this is 100% rye distilled in May 2009 and matured for 11 years in cask #346, for five years in Alberta and then another six years on Vancouver Island.

The colour is a dark amber. On the nose it's cigar box, burnt sugar and serious oak, big time. Slightly floral. Tannic. Lots of cloves. Roasted walnuts. Dark chili chocolate. With water, it's almost as if it has a port finish. Heavy and thick.

Heavy and thick on the palate too, with dark honey, vanilla pod and cocoa. Lots of balsamic. Big rye spice - and much spicier with water. Cognac-like. This is powerful stuff, but well balanced despite the high proof.

The finish is very long, vegetal, cinnamon and cloves. This is a completely different beast than the other two. Those Shelter Points were either single malt or grain, finished in Islay casks - they were quite different from each other but also had a few similarities. This rye, however, doesn't have the complexity or the elegance that they had - though it's more than drinkable, it's a big brute that needs to learn some manners.

Nose:

Body:

Palate:

8 comments

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

Happy to see a review about this one, the previous Shelter point rye was a really nice selection and was surprised when this one popped up. This one sounds rather intense but a lot of the notes you mention are very enticing, cigar box, roasted walnuts & big rye spice! Yes please!

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@cricklewood I wonder if a cigar might have improved the experience - not that I disliked the whisky, but it would have paired well with one.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

@talexander I have a humidor but it has been empty for over a year. Just couldn't really get into cigars. There are a few milder ones I liked and the Drew Estate Connecticut white label is enjoyable. For the price though I'd rather just get whiskey laughing

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@talexander I’ve never had much luck pairing cigars and whisky. The cigar always seems to overwhelm the whisky and all subtlety is lost. But maybe I’m just a wuss.

4 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@casualtorture Cuban cigars are quite cheap if you get them in Cuba...

4 years ago 1Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@OdysseusUnbound It's gotta be a pretty tough whisky to stand up to it. My most successful pairings have been older Canadians, bourbons and ryes (particularly higher proof), older scotch blends (that aren't overly peaty) and single malts with some kind of port or wine finishes (and which aren't terrible on their own). And cigars go even better with rum, cognac/armagnac or port. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, don't pair peated whiskies with cigars - it's too much smoke all at once.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@talexander Or one might say, don't pair burning tobacco products with anything, both to increase the immediate pleasure of the spirit if you feel this dulls the flavour, and also to increase the length of time you can remain healthy enough to enjoy it...

4 years ago 2Who liked this?

@talexander
talexander commented

@Nozinan Womp womp. disappointed Yer no fun.

4 years ago 2Who liked this?