Last Straw Straight Ontario Rye Cask Strength
Don DiMonte and Mike Hook, of Last Straw Distillery in Vaughan, Ontario had been debating for some time whether they should release Cask 2 in their 100% Ontario Straight Rye series, at the more common 43% abv bottling strength. Early tastes from the barrel told them that at cask strength, the rich, robust whisky sang louder and more melodiously than Pavarotti. Their problem though was that it was also great at 43% and at 40% abv.
To help them decide, they sent samples out to a test group, and the taste testers agreed. Or maybe we should say they disagreed. The test group loved it at each strength too, but some preferred the higher abv while others were drawn to standard bottle strength of 40%. Finally, DiMonte and Hook had an epiphany. Through the miracle of hand bottling, they could make everyone happy.
On November 10, grateful cask strength whisky lovers will see their dreams fulfilled when the two will release their first 48 bottles at a cask strength of 65.8%. Then, early next year they will release the rest at 43%. Voilà!
At 3 years old, Cask 2 is one of those bright young ryes that are becoming so popular with aficionados. For as long as there have been whisky blenders, some have added young rye as “top dressing” to their longer-aged blends and high-rye whiskies. They do this to capture some of the bright notes that barrel ageing can sometimes diminish. Cask 2 displays these high notes in all their glory.
The whisky starts out floral and a bit earthy, with hints of blue clay - a tell-tale sign of youth. Then a remarkable melange of spices adds depth without overpowering the alluring floral notes. A sweetness, with lemonish citrus notes rounds out the body, while pleasantly bitterish woody tones tie it all together like Angostura does in a cocktail.
An increasing number of new distillers in Canada are working with 100% rye and they are taking this whisky grain in new directions. Hints of the lemon notes, formerly found most commonly in some European rye whiskies, are becoming more common here as well, even as these 100% rye whiskies branches into new floral essences. A broad range of spices augments the new flavours without dominating the palate. And like the best young ryes, this three-year-old fairly dances across the palate.
Forty-eight bottles of Last Straw’s Straight Ontario Rye, Cask 2 will be available at cask strength beginning November 10 for $65. Then, early in 2021, the rest will be released at 43%.