SF Crusader: Metze's Select 2015 Medley

When Metze's Select was first announced, I was a little surprised to hear about it, but more surprised that MGP hadn't done this before. I won't go far into distillery background, but they make so much whiskey that it was kind of shocking they weren't getting in on the current whiskey boom.This one seemed to fall off the radar a little - it was announced a while ago but took a long time to reach shelves, and I haven't seen many reviews of it online yet. Which is a shame, as it's a delicious bourbon. Let's get to it then.The first thing you notice is the bottle. A unique and distinctive shape reminiscent of both a teardrop and a molar tooth, it is an attractive, modern package. And it looks like a packaged unit of a product, more so than other bottles that I've noticed. This might be solely due to the fact that it is a unique design, and therefore that I'm examining it more closely, but it does have a round shiny appeal which is in some way similar to a real-life instantiation of a polished gem from a video game. It feels very sleek and "designed", if that makes sense. I asked MGP about how the bottle design was chosen but was given a pretty vague reply, "In making our selection, we wanted a bottle that would reflect the premium quality of Metze’s Select." So there you have it.One thing I really like about Metze's Select is that they make the sources extremely explicit. The bottle's front label has the following list.

• 38% - 2006 Bourbon (21% Rye)
• 3% - 2006 Bourbon (36% Rye)
• 59% - 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye)

I was very curious about that second item there - only 3%? I emailed MGP asking about it and here's what they had to say:

While all three of the bourbons used in Metze’s Select are the Lawrenceburg style high rye mash bills, the splash of bourbon with 36% rye added a little extra fruity note, almost raisin-like, to make the 2015 medley an even more unique expression.

The nose is quite pleasant, predominantly sweet vanilla with almost no alcohol burn. I also get a hint of baking spices, and a little butterscotch as well. A similar nose almost to an Elmer T Lee, but with none of that slightly sour apricot tang which I've noticed in a few Buffalo Trace whiskies.Remarkably smooth (but not boring!) on the palate. This is an easy drinker for sure. After noticing the wonderful texture, some light brown sugar emerges and nicely coats the tongue. Really a delightful sipper. There's a little oak tannin but it is in no way overpowering, and adds a good light structure to the pour.The finish brings a dusting of cocoa powder and even a whisper of dill, while that brown sugar from before remains. Revisiting the nose, I get more dill,Greg Metze has put together a great whiskey. It's definitely on the lighter side of the bourbon spectrum, but although "light", "smooth" and "sweet" aren't always things that bourbon fans seek out, Metze's Select truly delivers without sacrificing depth or complexity. The relatively high proof (46.5% ABV) certainly helps here, as this would be a very different whiskey at 80 proof. It also markedly improved in the glass over the course of 10-20 minutes.Rating: 3.5/5