Stellum Rye Whiskey (75cl, 58.1%)

A cask-strength straight rye at 58.12% ABV in a 750ml bottle, from Stellum Spirits, the line created by Barrell Craft Spirits founder Joe Beatrice. It carries no age statement. The base is a 95% rye Indiana mash bill, blended with small amounts of barley-forward rye and Kentucky and Tennessee barrels. It was blended in Louisville and bottled uncut. The name comes from the Latin stella, meaning star. It won Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The nose is stewed apple, pear and peach with nutmeg, clove, light mint and liquorice. The palate brings aniseed, cardamom, coriander, lemon peel and tangerine. The finish is star anise, white pepper and mint, fading to honeyed jasmine green tea.