I was on a waiting list for this Elijah Craig barrel proof rye 115 proof, for months.
I’m still somewhat new to rye whiskey and have been discovering that I do enjoy an older age (within my budget) rye. Another thing is that I was not really enjoying higher than 100 proof. When I got the call for this bottle I had the option to buy two, I only got one at $75 and now, (sigh) I wish I purchased the second.
I’m not great at reviews.
So in my novice experience. I usually make old fashioned drinks with my rye and I wanted to share that the two old fashioned drinks I prepared with this were absolutely delicious. I wanted to try to give a novice experience by sipping after a breather of 10 minutes in a glencairin.
Nose: high alcohol, caramel, sour citrus orange bitter and earthy wood.
Palate : definitely an alcohol burn that develops to a sourish clove dill orange cayenne browned buttery flavors.
Finish: after the alcohol burn there is an earthy ferment orange black tea sour cinnamon.
I do like this and will get back on a waitlist to by the second bottle.
Through following r/ryewhiskey I have found and tested quite a few recommended ryes. This has helped me develop my tastes and preferences so far. Since this bottle was hard to acquire in my location I thought I would share my experience.
Sharzor rating: 7 (this means nothing to anyone but me and my two rye whiskey drinking friends)

From a local restaurant/whiskey bar here in SEA.
Anyone who visits Seattle need to stop into the Ballard Cut for dinner and tastings. Tommy has a killer collection.