J.W. Kelly Melrose Rye Whiskey (75cl, 46%)

J.W. Kelly Melrose is a rye whiskey from the revived Chattanooga house of J.W. Kelly & Co., bottled at 46% in a 75cl bottle. It was distilled in Kentucky, then aged, blended, finished and bottled in Chattanooga, and was introduced in September 2018 as the city's first-born rye. The rye is aged first in American white oak barrels, then finished in hand-selected Amarone casks from Valpolicella in Italy. The wine casks bring dark-fruit depth and heighten the cherry and cinnamon notes. Tasting notes describe clove and ginger spice with vanilla, dried stone fruit, prune and raisin on the nose. The palate is sweet caramel building to clove and nutmeg, and the finish carries raisin, molasses, oak and orange.