Orange zest | Caramel chews | Sweet rolls | Peppery spice

Honey Smacks cereal | Seared mint | Burnt orange | Toffee | A touch buttery

Rye spice | Black pepper | Touch of clove | Nutmeg

There’s no denying that climate has a big impact on how a whiskey ages in a barrel. One of the big differences between bourbon before and after the boom was the wider range of climates bourbon was being subjected to. While N.S.D. Spirits shipping the 5 year old rye from Kentucky to England to be aged there comes across as gimmicky, at the end of the day, England has a unique climate, and the additional journey the whiskey took to get there and back most certainly has an impact on the final product.

Following their Never Say Die Bourbon, N.S.D. Spirits’ rye release follows a similar trajectory. It’s an easy-sipping rye that is best described as a solid sipper. The nose, with its orange zest, caramel chews, sweet rolls, and peppery spice scents works. The palate is the best part of the sip, showcasing beautiful notes of Honey Smacks cereal, seared mint, burnt orange, and toffee. The finish ramps up the heat with bold rye spice, black pepper, and light clove. Though it may be a bit rough around the edges, its flavors and viscosity work in its favor. It's on the pricey side, but at least it hits a good baseline of quality, and its bottle design is top notch.