World Whiskey Society 12 Year Rye Awamori Cask Finish Reserve Collection

World Whiskey Society 12 Year Rye Awamori Cask Finish Reserve Collection is a limited edition 12-year-old Straight Rye Whiskey combines traditional craftsmanship with the exotic influence of Japanese Awamori cask finishing.

The high rye content lends a bold and spicy character, with flavors of black pepper and cinnamon balanced by the sweetness of caramelized sugar and honey. Toasted oak and warm spices give way to delicate floral undertones and hints of tropical fruit. 

On the finish, the aged Awamori cask adds a distinctive twist to the flavor profile, with subtle hints of umami and brine mingling with notes of toasted coconut and ripe mango, adding a unique depth and complexity to the whiskey.

Awamori casks have been used in the world of scotch, but this is the first time that one is being used to finish an American rye whiskey. The result can best be summed up as “unique.” It starts with a nose that is layered and nuanced and rewards you the longer you sit with it and pull these layers apart. Pear and peach provide a dab of sweetness, while faint oak, cigar box, green peppercorn, and leather provide an earthy contrast. This uniqueness is on display in full force in the midpoint as the sip transitions to more untraditional fruit notes along with tobacco, rye spice, and mixed peppercorns. Ending on exciting flavors of tropical fruit salad, rye spice, brine, and tobacco leaf, the whiskey continues to surprise you thanks to an unusual combination of unique flavors.