Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof Review

Stepping up the proof even higher, the Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof delivers the whiskey in all of its unadulterated glory. This is the whiskey as it is straight out of the barrel. Besides the proof, it’s the same base whiskey as the regular Roundstone Rye and the Distiller’s Edition Roundstone. Now I just need to get a taste of their bonded release to complete the Catoctin range.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof

It’s incredibly interesting to try the same whiskey at different proofs and different ages. To see how the time in oak changes the whiskey and how the addition of water mutes or enhances different characters. Being the purest form of the whiskey this side of a Whiskey Thief, this rye whiskey review is one I’m looking forward to.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In Catoctin Creek Distilling’s Words:

The cask proof version of our ever-popular Roundstone Rye is a very special expression. Released at approximately 58% ABV (it varies depending on the individual barrels), this is seriously strong whisky! Delicious, dark, complex and ridiculously smooth for the proof, Roundstone Rye Cask Proof is released only about twice per year.

The Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.) for this rye whiskey

Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Virginia, USA

Distiller: Catoctin Creek Distilling
Mash Bill: 100% Rye
Cask: New Charred Oak (30 gallon barrel)
Age: NAS
ABV: 58%

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Batch: M8E18
Bottle: 261

Price: $90*

Tasting Notes

EYE
Dark amber

NOSE
Caramel, brown sugar, butterscotch, rye spice, young wood, citrus and some anise, char, vanilla frosting and herbal notes.

PALATE
Raw grain, rye spice, cocoa, butterscotch, candied citrus, dried fruit, raw wood, vanilla frosting and some herbal notes.

FINISH
Long -> Toasted marshmallows, cocoa and spice that turns to sugary raw wood.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, full body with a dry chalky feel.

It's an ok whiskey, but a raw woody character eventually takes over and becomes all that’s available.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof Review: Overall and Score

By far the best thing, I’ve had, in the Catoctin Creek stable. Aroma is decent with less of that raw woody profile found in the Distiller’s Edition Roundtsone; Palate has more of that raw woodiness threaded through it, but it doesn’t take over till the fade; Finish starts raw and woody and picks up some sweeter notes before diving straight into that raw craft profile.

Without a doubt the Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof is a better version of the original Roundstone Rye, but it still doesn’t come across as a mature rye whiskey like Wild Turkey 101 Rye or the Old Forester Rye. It’s decent stuff that works quite well in cocktails, as does all their whiskey, but when it comes to drinking neat that raw woody nature keeps demanding my attention over everything else.

SCORE: 81/100 (B-)