Templeton has a limited-release Stout Cask Finish for their world-famous rye whiskey. It’s a completely different feel for an American whiskey. And I like it.
The formula is pretty simple. Take the straight rye whiskey that Templeton is already known for (95 percent rye, 5 percent malted barley) and age it six years or so in a charred new American oak. Then it is finished in a cask that previously contained a barrel-aged chocolate coffee stout. This aged barrel adds some stout to the whiskey, bringing it a cocoa edge.
I’m a great lover of whisky/whiskey, scotch, and stout beers. And this is a good one. If you aren’t a fan of rye, you should try Templeton’s Rye Stout Cask Finish anyway. Especially if you’re a fan of smooth scotch whiskey.
I say that because there are two things about the stout barrel used here that, it seems to me, transform the rye into a more Scottish brew. I think it’s a mixture of the heavy beer barrel flavor and the coffee touches that do that. I’m not personally a huge fan of chocolate coffee stouts, but coffee-infused whiskey is wonderful. So what we have here is a sort of best of everything in one bottle.
Golf, Rum, and Fishing on an Ultimate Caribbean Mancation Cruise
Golf, Rum, and Fishing are all waiting you on an awesome Caribbean cruise to the Eastern Caribbean islands of Antigua, St. Maarten, Barbados, and Saint Lucia.
Alila Marea Resort Features One Of The Best Beach Views In North County San Diego
The Alila Marea beach resort in San Diego is one of the few truly beach front hotels and resorts in San Diego, California.
Multi day Kayak Expedition Sitka, Alaska
Multi day kayak expedition in Sitka, Alaska with wildlife, pristine forests and Tlingit and Haida history, ideal for adventurous paddlers.
4 Days Istanbul & Cappadocia with Cave Hotel + Optional Balloon
A 4-day Istanbul and Cappadocia tour with cave hotel stay, ideal for travelers wanting UNESCO sites and fairy chimneys.
Promoted by FlowAds
Official Tasting Notes:
Aroma: Aromas of roasted chocolate, creamy cocoa, and dried apricot hint spectacularly at what’s to come
Taste: Complex and full-bodied with sweet malt and roasted barley that dovetail with black cherries and toasted almonds, giving way to subtle coffee tones over a base of rye pepper and spice
Finish: Perfectly balanced with a creamy mouthfeel of roasted coffee and cocoa that slowly dissipates into a long decadent finish
Man Gear Pick of the Month
Kenyon City Grill Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill
Why we picked it: a grill you can actually carry to the campsite, the tailgate or the cabin without borrowing a truck. Stainless, no propane tank to wrestle, and hot enough to cook for four guys rather than reheat for one.
August's Pick LiberNovo Maxis Electric Big and Tall Ergonomic Office Chair, Graphite 52cm $1,393.00 
July's Pick Powerful Propane Torch Gun, Adjustable Flame Thrower Gun, Kitchen Torch with Detachable Design, Flamethrower Blow Torch for BBQ, Searing Steak, Welding, Camping Charcoal Lighter(Tank Not Included) $42.99 
June's Pick OYASUMI Funny BBQ Man Hot Dog Holders, 4 PCS Reusable Stainless Steel Sausage Stands, Portable Hot Dog Roasters, Barbecue Grill Accessories for Camping & Party Gifts $7.98 Promoted by FlowAds
The cocoa from the coffee and the kick of the stout beer combine with the rye to smooth it a little, adding some back-of-tongue flavor that mitigates some of the hick kick rye often has. When combined with smoking the glass before pouring, it’s even better. This makes the Templeton Rye Stout Cask Finish nearer to a smooth sipping (non-petey) scotch without losing its American whiskey finish. The rye is still there, it’s just less of a mule kick–which is what turns off many drinkers to rye in the first place.
None of this means that the Stout Cask Finish is removing the American rye whiskey feel of the Templeton, though. It’s just smoothing the part that many don’t like. Sort of popularizing it, in a way, without killing its original intent. Kind of like Metallica’s Black Album, before they went all Load/Re-Load.
Templeton’s Stout Cask Finish rye hit shelves in mid-November of this year and immediately got attention. Being a fan of whiskey finished in stout and stout finished in whiskey, it was a no-brainer that I was going to give it a shot. Or three. My preferred is from a smoked glass, the glass itself frozen and the whiskey poured neat. But a cube of ice or a clean glass aren’t bad here either. Your choice.