Going all the way back to the days I was originally getting into Whiskey, along came Laws Whiskey House to help really kick off my love for Colorado Whiskey. Flash forward a bunch of years, and I picked up this bottle and was extremely excited about it, but didn’t get to open it until recently. The Secale has been replaced with the San Luis Valley Rye, but that doesn’t take away from this spectacular release.
This particular bottle is from a Single Barrel selected by Argonaut Liquors in Denver.
Mashbill:
95% Rye 5% Malted Barley
Age:
2+ years in an American oak barrel that was disassembled and charred again using straw from the field.
Proof:
104 Proof (57% ABV)
In the Glass:
Color:
Straw with a slight Bronze tint.
Without Water:
Nose:
Some toasted sugar and smoke, with complimenting floral notes. Sometimes the charred oak is apparent on the nose of a glass, and this is certainly one of those times.
Palate:
A light fruity front. Not like traditional fruity though-the tasting notes from the Argonaut tag say Prickly Pear and I am inclined to agree, though I couldn’t place it myself at first. There is a coating quality, it feels big and full. There are some unsweetened tea notes, and spices such as white pepper.
Finish:
A long time lingering smokey finish. Light like the rest of the sip, but definitely showcases that double char very well. The spices from the rye are just present enough.
SIDE NOTE:
It is a little bit crazy how little the proof is shown with this whiskey. It is ridiculously easy drinking for being a cask strength. Making it approachable but still complex.
With Water:
Nose:
More smokey notes come through with a few drops of water, as well as more floral notes. There are also some baked bread scents that come out.
Palate:
More of the rye shows itself, baking spices and white pepper come through. The tea notes remain, and it keeps it big mouth feel. The fruit notes do fade a little bit, but there is a quality that almost creates a tingling sensation on the tongue.
Finish:
Black pepper comes out with water on the finish, and the smokey qualities really shine. You can also really taste that double char with the water added. However, it does not linger as long with the water drops added.
Final Thoughts:
It is quite impressive how easy drinking this bottle is for being both a rye and a cask strength. It is flavorful, big, and complex, but never unapproachable at any point. The folks at Laws constantly put out a quality whiskey, and also a shout out to Argonaut Liquor for choosing such an excellent barrel! While you probably will not be able to find the Secale most places as of the time this has been posted, I highly recommend picking up anything that Laws puts out.
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