I have been looking forward to getting my hands on Uncle Nearest Whiskey Uncut/Unfiltered Rye from exclusive. Bottled at 59.8% ABV, 119 and priced at $149.99, distillery exclusive, it promises genuine character.
Nose
Old Gold or wood sap with slow thin legs. A big hit of rye spice followed by Christmas spices. I found cinnamon, pear, and wheat, all floating through a nice blanket of alcohol. The back end of the nose was typical oak and char. Very clean nose, pleasant.
Palate
You are hit with that lovely rye spice right out of the gate. It mellows into walnut, with a long warmth before turning into a burn. Upon the second and third tastes I found charcoal, worn leather, and oak. The mouthfeel is not as oily as I would have expected, but not too watery either. The finish is dry and causes a little puckering. With successive breaths, I found some peanut funk, sweet caramel, and a clean dryness of the tongue. The finish wasn’t long and eventually the smooth warming turned into a solid burn. The whiskey here is a fine example of rye whiskey, but to be a truly excellent rye it needs more. Rye is a delightful fruity grain with delicate punches to really push the profile. I found the whiskey didn’t push the envelope for me, and I found myself wanting a bit more from the glass. Each sip only revealed a little more about the whiskey, and I didn’t find myself really wanting to revisit it. It is a nice whiskey, and I probably wouldn’t turn down another glass if offered. However, there are other whiskeys I’d reach for first.
Finish
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful 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.
The Bottom Line
Uncle Nearest Whiskey Uncut/Unfiltered Rye is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. At $149.99, distillery exclusive, the value is reasonable — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
