LOCK STOCK & BARREL 20yo Straight Rye Whiskey 56% abv 750ml

Information and tasting notes courtesy of Jim Vorel

The Lock Stock and Barrel series of rye whiskeys from Cooper Spirits shoots for just such a rare exception. These are barrels of 100% Canadian rye whiskey, from the well-respected Alberta Distillers Ltd., which were purchased by third-generation distiller Robert J. Cooper years ago. Cooper Spirits subsequently has been putting out new versions of “LSB” every few years, starting with a 13 year, then a 16 year, and then an 18 year, culminating in the new 20 Year version of Lock Stock and Barrel straight rye.

On the nose, LSB 20 Year is actually pretty promising, however. Seasoned oak is definitely the lead off, but there’s also some enticing notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg to be found here. Faint rye bread combines with pepper to suggest the mash bill, while subtle apple and peach/apricot gives it a bit of fruity complexity. All in all, it’s a nice nose, especially after sitting in the glass for a while, which brings out more of a sweet/rich toffee character.

These flavors have a more difficult time following over onto the palate. Here, the initial impressions are very spicy and oaky. It’s quite savory, as you’d probably expect for a rye of this unusually advanced age, with lots of tobacco and cigar wrapper, combined with spices that lean in the direction of ginger, clove, nutmeg and anise. There’s some molasses like sweetness, but that is quickly swept aside by burly oak and long-lasting tannins, which eventually contribute substantial dryness on the palate. The finish becomes increasingly oak dominated, with light bitterness, lots of pepper and char, almost slightly smoky. The fruitier and richer notes from the nose, meanwhile, become harder to find.