A.D. Laws Secale Rye Whiskey Review

We’re getting into the American Whiskey spirit by hitting up another craft whiskey: A.D. Laws Secale Rye Whiskey. Why? Because it’s a dynamic realm to explore. Named after the Latin name for rye (secale cereal), I picked this up for our recent 20 blind ryes tasting for the SCWC.

As we saw with the Leopold Bros. Maryland Style Rye some craft producers still pumping out raw stuff. Though as we’ve seen with New Riff Rye and Wilderness Trail Rye, there are some true craft gems out there. Question is, where will this fit?

A.D. Laws Secale Rye Whiskey – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Region: Colorado, USA

Distiller: Laws Whiskey House
Mash Bill: 47.5% Rye, 47.5% Malted Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 2+ Years
ABV: 47.5%

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Batch: 10

Price: $55

“Our Secale Rye Whiskey aged over four years to meet the standards of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. Bottled in Bond requires that the whiskey be a product of a single season, using the grain of a single season, made by one distiller at a single distillery, and aged at least four years in a federal government-bonded warehouse. This whiskey is then cut and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). These rules are even more stringent than the U.S. standards for “Straight Whiskey.”” – Laws Whiskey House

Tasting Notes

EYE
Butterscotch

NOSE
Tropical fruit, grain sweetness, craft woody, citrus, roasted apples, leather, white pepper, cocoa and a touch of that butyric acid essence (if you know, you know).

PALATE
Craft woody, cocoa, citrus, tropical fruit, dried apples, spice and leather with touches of herbal, nuts, dried dark fruit and again that butyric note.

FINISH
Medium -> Woody and lightly fruity.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Not fully balanced, medium body and a slick, almost oily, feel.

A.D. Laws Secale Rye Whiskey – Overall
Aroma is soft, pleasant, fruity and my favorite part of the whiskey with its layered dessert sweet delivery… just wish those butyric and young woody notes weren’t there; Palate starts tight and overly “crafty”, but slowly opens to something more fruity and rustic though it never looses that craft-woody-saw-dusty dominance; Finish starts woody and fades to a fruity note that reminds me of good Chilean Pisco (Bau Barroetta 9 year to be exact)… so odd.

Sits on the better side of the craft whiskey spectrum, but it still has plenty of that sharp woody profile I just don’t care for.

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A.D. Laws Secale Rye Whiskey – Final Thoughts and Score

Definitely not one of my favorite A.D. Laws expressions, but unique and interesting nonetheless. I’m interested in trying this at 6, or 8, years of age when it’s fully matured and the spirit and oak have fully integrated. But even as it sits now I love what A.D Laws is doing.

I love their relentlessly innovative approaches to whiskey and I’m even more excited for the day all their whiskey matures and replaces those sharp woody craft notes, like I’m getting in this A.D. Laws Secale Rye Whiskey, with the warm oaky notes we know and love in American whiskey. It’ll happen, it just takes time, and I’ll be here patiently waiting.

SCORE: 2/5

A.D. Laws Secale Rye Whiskey Review $55

Overall

2

• Nose (2)
• Palate (2)
• Finish (2)
• BBF (2)

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Summary

Yes, it’s another young craft with that woody-saw-dust-wet-cardboard note hanging heavy, but beneath that wet plank is a lot of interesting and unique notes that I’m liking. If they were the dominant notes this would be an amazing whiskey.

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