Ragged Branch keeps winning awards, and it is no surprise. They take no shortcuts and let things take their time. This 4-year old Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye won a Silver medal at the World Spirits Competition in 2020. It is bold and spicy starting with a rich sweet nose of dark brown sugar, molasses and cooked oatmeal, like a breakfast porrige on a cold winter morning. The palate is full of woody flavors from mahogany to polished teak, surrounded by sawdust notes as if you are in a woodworkers shop sipping a sherry after a long day. The finish is sweet and raisiny, with memories of sweet honey mead. It is unusual as a Rye because the „normal“ pepper notes of Rye are quite subdued, and sweetness comes out. Rye is the quintessential Virgina whiskey and this one from Ragged Branch is memorable.