Savage & Cooke Lip Service Rye Whiskey (45%)

Lip Service is the first release of Dave Phinney's three-year-old rye whiskey under the Savage & Cooke name. Each barrel was hand-selected, and the youngest rye in the blend is three years old. It was aged for at least three years in new charred American oak, then finished in wine barrels from Phinney's Grenache project in Maury, France. The mash bill is 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malted barley, reduced to 90 proof with water from a high-elevation property in Alexander Valley, California. Orange peel, clove and candied ginger lead on the nose. The palate is creamy and velvety, with white pepper, berry compote and honey, and the persistent finish carries exotic spice and toasty vanilla.