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Still Waters Stalk & Barrel Rye

Still Waters x 3 - Part II

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@talexanderReview by @talexander

7th Nov 2016

0

Still Waters Stalk & Barrel Rye
  • Nose
    22
  • Taste
    21
  • Finish
    20
  • Balance
    21
  • Overall
    84

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Still Waters
  • ABV: 46%

I reviewed a cask strength bottling over a year ago; this one is their 46% version. Like the single malt I just reviewed, the label says "single cask" but doesn't give a cask number.

The colour is a pale gold (just a hair darker than the single malt). On the nose, we get buttered rye toast, freshly ground black pepper, various herbs (sage, mint and a hint oregano) and lime. A bit of cumin. Toasted oak. Water adds a bit of smoke. Quite complex for a young rye, but needs to be a bit fruitier to round things out.

The palate has a lot of zing (and heat) with massive spice, mouth-drying oak and toasted rye crusts. Kumquats. Various citrus notes (lemon, lime, orange). A big eye-opener but it's mostly spice, heat and citrus - no bottom notes here.

The long finish is chalky, with an off-citrus note that doesn't quite work (like a cut lemon that's been in the fridge too long). I remember liking their cask-strength rye more, but this one is fine (though needs more time in the cask). Totally different than most Canadian ryes, even the ones that are actually mostly rye.

Nose:

Body:

Palate:

4 comments

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

I purchased the "discovery pack" for the bargain price of $79.95. I discovered that all three of these 'discoveries' need more time in oak. The rye needs time in new oak.

I recently tried some rye that was aging in new casks. It was only 10 weeks into what I hope will be several years in new oak and the positive effect of the new oak on the rye distillate was evident.

I now own three examples of young 'single' grain whisky...I'm considering returning this to the LCBO as it is not worth $80. What were they thinking when it was initially priced at $115?

Caveat Emptor

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@paddockjudge, I'm looking forward to hearing how that goes with the KGBO...

8 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

This one is NAS? Is it 100% rye? Do they even say what grains are in the whisky?...or what types of casks/barrels are used?

So it's called 'Rye', from a company that names whiskies by the grains, but in a country in which "rye" can be anything, and they don't tell anyone the age, the mashbill, or the casks used?

Try before you buy....

8 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

All three of the whiskies in the Discovery Pack are NAS, and do not specify type of cask or cask number, and doesn't say whether the rye is 100% or not. Given the flavour and the philosophy of the distillery, I would say that this is either 100% or very close to.

8 years ago 0