Michter's 10 Year Kentucky Straight Rye 46.4%

Nose: On the nose, Michter's 10 Year rye is loaded with spice, pound cake and honey, baking spice. Not super herbal, but there is a good deal of cinnamon, clove, pepper, ginger. Brown sugar, brown butter, big sweetness and toffee balance out on the palate. Big and rich. Not a ton of oak, balanced.

Taste: Touch of fruit, apples, orange, cherry and honey blend with big pepper, cracked pepper, plenty of oak and baking spice. Rich and oily despite the lower proof, delicious. All of the flavor, no ethanol punch.

Finish: Bigger on the dessert and baking spice on the finish, pleasant sweet oak, toffee, brown butter, big cracked pepper and more subtle sweetness and baking spice.

Overall: This year's release of Michter's 10yr rye is a total stunner, big and rich despite the lower proof. Fruit, dessert, spice and oak blend masterfully for an easy contender for rye of the year.