Still Waters Stalk & Barrel Rye Cask No. 23

Still Waters has also bottled some cask-strength ryes - 100% Ontario rye, again non-coloured and non-chill-filtered. This one matured for three years in Cask No. 23, yielding 198 bottles. I believe you can only buy this at the distillery.

The colour is a very light gold, perhaps a touch darker than the single malt I just reviewed. On the nose, clotted cream (!), buttered rye toast and fresh hay. Like many ryes, quite floral (reminds me of the Collingwood 21 Year Old rye, though not as aggressive as that one). Mint. Little cask influence. Medicinal. Water increases the volume on the herbal notes. Very interesting and complex but needs more depth.

On the palate we have a powerhouse - brine, pepper, caraway and tons more spice. Much stronger than the nose, more oak as well. Creamy mouthfeel. Water improves it by upping the spice and caraway. What it lacks on the nose it makes up for on the palate - this is a belter of a rye.

The finish is chalky with chilis, then late-arriving oak and sawdust. Here we have a classic young rye whisky with all the pluses and minuses that go along with that. Quite exciting to drink, though a little all over the place. Not great in a Manhattan, but lets see what they come up with in a few years. Next, we'll look at another Ontario micro-distillery...