Fresh mint | Rye spice | Fruity | Faint honey | Hint of dill | Light baking spice | Dab of smoke | Pleasant opening

Honey | Caramel | Rye spice | Summer fruits | Charred oak | Mint | Brown sugar | Light tobacco leaf | Nice combination of flavors

Big rye spice | Dab of honey | Heavy oak | Aged leather | Heat dissipates faster than expected

Redline Whiskey was founded by a father and son team with over 30 years of fine wine and liquor industry experience. The name “Red Line'' is derived from the caramelized layer of sugars that develops just beneath the char of a barrel. The company focuses on single barrel selections with the majority being bourbons (and one rye) with various finishes. The company states that “this product is made by taking our Red Line Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey and then aging it for an additional period in a second custom made barrel. This second barrel is assembled from 18 month air dried wood and then toasted, not charred as your normal bourbon barrel would be.”

Like their Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon, Red Line Toasted Barrel Finish Rye showcases the company’s ability to both select barrels and also their ability to further refine them through a toasted barrel finishing process. While traditional notes of a 95/5 Indiana rye are present, these are subtly enhanced with sweeter flavors throughout that are most likely the contribution of the toasted barrel it was finished in. The overall sip is very pleasing and drinks lower than its 116 proof would suggest. While the finish is surprisingly on the short side, this is an easy sipping rye that’s worth its price tag.

The bottle being reviewed is number 214 out of 220.