Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, black pepper, orange peel, custard, brown paper, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, black pepper, orange peel, brown paper, fresh baked bread, hints of gentian. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, brown paper, vanilla, hints of gentian. 

Comments: 

Rather bitter for a rye, lots of fragrant notes and some peppery spiciness. It’s also quite bready, which is a little odd, but that pepper note still comes through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Catoctin Creek Roundhouse Rye

Catoctin Creek Roundhouse Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Bronze
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sourdough, white pepper, nutmeg, orange zest, new plastic, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loose, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange zest, yeast, raisins, white pepper, nutmeg, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Yeast, sourdough, coffee, hints of cream. 

Comments: 

Very different from its higher strength cousin. Less sweet, sourish, yeasty and bready, with a bitter undertone. About the only similarity is the nutmeg and the hints of cream on the finish. Decent stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Catoctin Creek Roundhouse Rye Cask Proof

Catoctin Creek Roundhouse Rye Cask Proof

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Amber rose
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, cream, pears, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, airy, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberries, magic marker, cream, cloves, bananas, hints of cardamom. 
Finish: Short. Cucumber, strawberries, cloves, bananas, hints of mint. 

Comments: 

Wow, this is amazing stuff. It's chock-full of incredibly intense spicy notes, wreathed through with fruit and herbs. It's highly sweet, and I checked to see if it had been mixed with something. Of course it hadn't, it's just great whisky. Scarily drinkable at 58%, I didn't even bother with water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.