Rye spice | Spiced vanilla | Light oak | Slight cocoa powder | Kentucky Cream Pull candy | Creaminess to the aroma

Dry oak | Light tobacco leaf | Rye spice | Peppercorn blend | Leather | Slightly tannic

Gentle rye spice | Cinnamon spice | Light leather | Gentle peppercorn spice | Warming heat | Fleeting spice

Founded in 2008, Middle West Spirits is based out of Columbus, Ohio and states that they’re “focused on elevating the distinctive flavors of the Ohio River Valley.” The company produces bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey, along with barrel finished versions of each. This release is part of the company’s focus on the Midwest, with the 197 limited bottle release being the first time that Lost Lantern has offered a Middle West Spirits whiskey and the third distillery from Ohio that the brand has worked with.

When you first lift the glass, you’re greeted with an aroma that comes across as full of creamy scents, with Kentucky Cream Pull candy and spiced vanilla leading the way. The midpoint veers completely away from the creaminess the nose implies, instead offering more mouth-suckingly dry flavors of leather and oak. Rye spice and tobacco leaf add into these more earthy flavors, which make the palate have a more tannic overtone. The finish is surprising as you expect a bold spice to bring things home, but instead, you’re greeted with a gentler version that highlights spice notes and a warming heat, but is over all-too-soon. It’s a very drinkable rye, but one that feels like it’s leaving something on the table due to its drier and lighter midpoint and ending.