Last Straw Straight Ontario Rye Cask Strength

Fans of great cask strength rye whisky should get ready to celebrate. Last Straw Distillery, in Vaughan, Ontario is set to release 48 bottles of Cask 2 Straight Ontario Rye, and it is a doozy. Bottled at 65.8% this whisky has all the raunchy power you would expect from 100% rye, while packing the punch of cask strength. More than that, it shows a wealth of mature flavour without surrendering the spontaneity of youth. Cask 2 is 3 years old.

Aromas of sweet toffees, blackstrap, sweet spices, fresh artist’s oil paint, dust and candied fruit mingle on a very aromatic nose. Bold, brash and loud on first sip Cask 2 Rye then settles into a vibrant yet simply lovely whisky. Oak caramels lend a hard-candy sweetness to the first sip just as hot spices roll around the tongue and alluring floral perfumes waft in. Pulling oak tannins bring stability and structure to a hot and spicy palate allowing complex flavours such as canned apricots and hints of jerky to weave in and out of earthy cereal notes and the ever-present sweet toffees. Really quite complex, especially for three-year-old whisky, with a breadth of sweet, spicy and floral tones.

The longish finish is sweetish throughout with a hot, lingering burn. Barrel tones, caramel and clean wood emerge in the empty glass.

Lovely stuff. Just forty-eight bottles at cask strength ($65). Very highly recommended. ★★★★★