The Podcaster Yak Attack Barrell Rye Review & Tasting Notes

 

When you’re a whiskey reviewer, you make friends in the industry. Some are distillers. Some are producers. Some are store owners. Then there’s the occasional fellow whiskey reviewer.

 

Whiskey In My Wedding Ring is the product of David Levine. He writes reviews and also has a podcast called The Whiskey Ring Podcast. I’ve been a guest on his podcast once or twice. We seem to have similar palates. His tagline is Drink What You Like, Drink It How You Like It. I’m unsure how long we’ve known each other, but it has been a few years.

 

David has partnered with another friend, Perry Ritter, who produces This is My Bourbon Podcast, to create a limited-edition whiskey called WRP & TIMBP Podcaster Yak Attack. Perry is the one who designed my Whiskeyfellow logo several years ago.

 

Podcaster Yak Attack is a Barrell Craft Spirits Private Release; the Rye recipe is 1A03. It is a blend of American (MGP) and Canadian (undisclosed distiller) Ryes aged between 5 and 14 years, then finished in an Armagnac cask. Bottled at 60.05% ABV (120.1°), a 750ml package can be procured from the MASH Network website for $99.50.

 

David sent me a sample and asked me to review the pick. Although he and Perry are my friends, this whiskey is subjected to the same scrutiny I’d give to any other. And, I appreciate what he told me before even agreeing to send it:

 

“In full transparency, it is brand building, but I also promise it’s a kick ass bottling. If you love it, I ask only for a post. If you hate it, I won't be offended at all.” – David Levine

 

Let’s #DrinkCurious and taste how they did.

 

Appearance: I poured Podcaster Yak Attack into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. The bright orange amber whiskey formed a massive rim, which deployed wavy, even thicker tears.

 

Nose: The aroma was flush with vanilla, caramel, and mint. Hidden beneath were pine, cinnamon, toasted coconut, and tobacco leaf smells. When I drew the vapor through my lips, I found a mixture of vanilla and leather.

 

Palate: Podcaster Yak Attack possessed a dry, medium-weight texture. The front featured toasted coconut, caramel, and creamy vanilla, while flavors of tobacco leaf, chocolate, and plum took hold of the middle. On the back, I tasted dry leather, rye spice, and cinnamon Red Hots.

 

Finish: The very long finish was warm and spicy. Toasted coconut stuck around the longest. Rye spice, cinnamon, dry leather, tobacco leaf, and cocoa powder faded earlier.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’ve had a handful of Armagnac-finished whiskeys, and Podcaster Yak Attack behaved similarly. They were all proofed at right about the same neighborhood. They have also been equally priced.

 

Podcaster Yak Attack drank about 10-15 points below its stated proof – that’s as far as the mouthfeel is concerned. This whiskey made both my throat and hard palate sizzle. I noted how sweet this started, yet how it turned on a dime to become a spice bomb.

 

Overall, I found Podcaster Yak Attack to be enjoyable and held my attention. Friends or not, this whiskey earned its Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.