American

Whiskey Review: Crater Lake Rye

We review Crater Lake Rye, a young American whiskey out of Oregon which is a little rough around the edges.

OVERALL RATING

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Crater Lake Rye

Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Deep gold in color and quite cloudy.
Nose:
The nose is distinctly hot, with white pepper notes and a hint of smoke. Underlying everything, though, is a pervasive chemical burn I can only compare to nail polish. After some time in the glass, the nose opens up, and warmer notes like honey, ginger, and cinnamon are more noticeable.
Palate:
This whiskey is definitely less harsh on the palate, though still hot. Cinnamon and oak mingle with white pepper and some dark fruit. Finish: Smokey oak and cinnamon pervade the surprisingly smooth finish. The overall impression this whiskey leaves is a level of heat surprising for such a low-proof spirit. However, it opens up after some time in the glass, and is considerably more aggressive on the nose than on the palate: while the nose borders on harsh, it comes across as merely peppery on the palate. I find I don’t dislike this whiskey, though it’s certainly a little rough around the edges. I give the Crake Lake Rye whiskey a score of 82.
Finish:
Smokey oak and cinnamon pervade the surprisingly smooth finish.
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Katelyn Best

Katelyn Best, a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, is a regular contributor to The Whiskey Wash. She has a particular passion for exploring the unique and unconventional aspects of the whisky world.

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