Review #188: Dancing Goat “I Would Rye 4 U” Batch 8

MASH BILL: undisclosed (it is MGP distillate, and I’ve seen a few suggest it’s 95% rye, 5% malted barley)

PROOF: 108

AGE: 9 years 

COST: $65 for 750mL bottle (I’m reviewing a sample)

When I first read an r/bourbon barrel pick program advertise an “I Would Rye 4 U” release, my brain immediately had neurons firing making me think, “MWND alt?” I’ve always been a fan of High West’s Midwinter Night’s Dram, but so do a lot of people. Not only has this demand really inflated its price over the years, but it’s also created a lot of mimicry. I’ve tried a few other port barrel finished rye whiskeys, but I’ve never found one to be quite as good as MWND. Because of this, I avoided taking the risk for this Dancing Goat expression. Then u/whiskeytrails gave me an opportunity to try batch 8 with no money down via this sample. (Thank you!) So, let’s check it out!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Orangey, mahogany color (1.6); syrupy looking, clings to the glass quite tightly at first and when it finally breaks off legs they’re thin and quick.

NOSE: A complex nose. After sitting for a few minutes and without disturbing it too much, this has dark, deep notes of plum and stewed stone fruit, spicy oak, and heavily caramelized brown sugar. After I give the glass a good swirl, I find that it noses a bit brighter with more classic rye whiskey notes: orange peel, dried rye berries, hay, and maraschino cherry syrup. Overall, fruity sweetness but with a sharp spice. There is a mild earthiness that I pick up as well making it distinguishable from MWND and not nearly as sticky sweet.

PALATE: A thick mouthfeel coating the palate with ease. Big stewed stone fruit notes right away: plum, cherry, dates, even some fig and strawberry. The sweetness starts to subside and lets black pepper and an earthy dried rye note enter. There’s also a little proof heat that starts to creep in. Orange peel, vanilla, and smoky oak show up late in the sip and transition well to the finish.

FINISH: A long, tannic finish. For as sweet as this was on the nose and palate, it leaned a little more earthy in the finish with charred oak, hay, and almond flour. Vanilla, strawberry wine, and caramelized plum notes still provide a nice sweetness.

RATING: 7.9/10

OVERALL: This is very similar to MWND, but differentiates itself well enough that you know to know it’s different. Right now after just having tried this knowing what it is, I’m confident I could pick which is which in a blind, but I’m sure that would prove otherwise in practice. It has a lot of similarities with MWND, particularly the sweet, dark stone fruit notes, but it also has an earthier profile to it.

 

1 | Disgusting | ...I've not subjected myself to this level

2 | Poor | Balcones Lineage

3 | Bad | High West Double Rye, Jefferson's Ocean 28

4 | Sub-par | Weller's SR, Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, Hillrock Estate Sauternes CS

5 | Good | Buffalo Trace, Sazerac Rye, Green River Wheated

6 | Very Good | Blanton's, Holladay Bourbons, Eagle Rare

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, BBCo Origin High Wheat, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, Maker's Mark Wood Finishing releases, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 121.2, BBC DS #7, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08, RR15