Last Straw Straight Ontario Rye Cask Strength

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Fans of great cask strength rye whisky should get ready to celebrate. Last Straw Distillery, in Vaughan, Ontario is set to release 48 bottles of Cask 2 Straight Ontario Rye, and it is a doozy. Bottled at 65.8% this whisky has all the raunchy power you would expect from 100% rye, while packing the punch of cask strength. More than that, it shows a wealth of mature flavour without surrendering the spontaneity of youth. Cask 2 is 3 years old.

Aromas of sweet toffees, blackstrap, sweet spices, fresh artist’s oil paint, dust and candied fruit mingle on a very aromatic nose. Bold, brash and loud on first sip Cask 2 Rye then settles into a vibrant yet simply lovely whisky. Oak caramels lend a hard-candy sweetness to the first sip just as hot spices roll around the tongue and alluring floral perfumes waft in. Pulling oak tannins bring stability and structure to a hot and spicy palate allowing complex flavours such as canned apricots and hints of jerky to weave in and out of earthy cereal notes and the ever-present sweet toffees. Really quite complex, especially for three-year-old whisky, with a breadth of sweet, spicy and floral tones.

The longish finish is sweetish throughout with a hot, lingering burn. Barrel tones, caramel and clean wood emerge in the empty glass.

Lovely stuff. Just forty-eight bottles at cask strength ($65). Very highly recommended. ★★★★★