Lock Stock & Barrel 18 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml

This is the third and oldest release thus far of Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey, following their 13-year-old and 16-year-old bottlings. Like those releases, this bottling is 100% rye whiskey distilled at Canada’s Alberta Distillery. It is a “robust cut”, unfiltered after aging for 18 years in new, charred American oak. Bottled at 109 proof.

An 18 year old, 100% rye mashbill whiskey is going to draw attention, especially when it’s bottled at 109 proof. The long ageing has tamed the spice of this rye to bring out notes of banana bread, candied ginger, and vanilla, with a touch of charred wood lurking the background. The finish is long and warming with a hint of cherry. This is a rye lover’s whiskey, and despite its high proof it’s easy to enjoy without any ice or water; break this bottle out on special occasions.

Lock Stock & Barrel 18 year rye whiskey is a Canadian-sourced whiskey that was made from a unique mashbill of 100% rye. It was double-distilled, and then a “robust cut” is aged in new, charred American oak barrels in cold weather for a whopping 18 years. It sits at an impressive 109 proof, which is something that surprised me given the age.

The new Lock Stock & Barrel 18 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey, according to those behind it, is the third and newest release in this series. It is a sourced expression, double distilled from a mash bill of 100 percent rye grain that’s been aged in “new charred American Oak barrels in cold weather for 18 years and bottled at 109 proof.”

Nose:

Notes of banana bread, candied ginger, and vanilla.

Palate:

Touch of charred wood lurking the background.

Finish:

Long and warming with a hint of cherry.