The Nose
The nose of Palmer's Stretch Rye Whiskey starts with a delightful buttery brown sugar (toffee) aroma. Any ethanol you smell is almost imperceptible. After those initial notes, pepper and rye spice come to the front…but not strong. The nose of this rye has a vibrant feel. It smells thick, which is good. Wait, was that cherry or some other dark fruit notes? Those notes went away too quickly. Still, the nose of this rye is a pleasant surprise.
The Palate
On the palate, the rye flavor is not very prominent. I'm getting more leather, clove, oak, and black pepper notes. This bold, peppery, and spicy mild rye does not have the traditional caramel and vanilla forward notes you would expect with a rye. There is very little sweetness, but the mouthfeel and viscosity are good.
The mash bill is comprised of rye, wheat, and malted barley. However, I am not sure of the percentages, but since Burnt Church Distillery refers to it as a "rye whiskey," the rye is over 51%.
The Finish
The pepper spice on the back of the throat is strong, and the finish down the throat is enjoyable with a perfect length. Still, I am getting strong pepper from the nose through to the finish.