Category: Rye Whiskey

Whiskey made from at least 51% rye

Willet Family Estate Rye 4-Year

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, American Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, WilletLeave a comment

Willet Family Estate Rye 4

Paid: $43 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by:Willet / KBD

Region: Kentucky

59.5% ABV

Aged For: 4 years

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Rye spices , mint, pepper, oak, caramel, and floral notes

Feel: Full bodied

Taste: Caramel, leather, pepper, brown sugar, oak, slight sweetness, good spice

Finish: Good warmth and length, clove, tobacco, rye, oak tannins, drying finish

Thoughts: A more refined version than the 3 year smoothing some of those rough edges, and still a tasty rye.

Score: 87 out of 100

Knob Creek Rye Single Barrel Select Westport Whiskey & Wine

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, American Whiskey, Jim Beam, Rye WhiskeyLeave a comment

Knob Creek Single Barrel Rye

Price: $45 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Jim Beam / Beam Suntory

Region: Kentucky

57.5% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Cask Type: New charred oak, Char #4

Chill Filtered: No?

 

 

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Caramel, bread yeast, peanuts, rye, oak, citrus, pine, alcohol

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Oak, cinnamon, rye spices, citrus, leather, pepper, peanuts

Finish: Medium warmth and length, oak, and vanilla, caramel, toasted nuts, baking spice

Thoughts: The citrus notes were an interesting flavor to find here, also has that signature beam nut funk, but its good to have another affordable rye in the same marketspace as Pikesville.

Score: 84 out of 100

Old Overholt Bonded

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, American Whiskey, Jim Beam, Rye WhiskeyLeave a comment

Old Overholt Bonded

Price: $20 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Jim Beam / Beam Suntory

Region: Kentucky

50% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Cask Type: New charred oak, Char #4

Chill Filtered: No

 

 

Color: Light amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Vanilla, oak, cinnamon, sweet mash, leather, paper

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Caramel, nuts, oak, rye, cinnamon, nutmeg

Finish: Good warmth and lasting, oak and caramel with vanilla

Thoughts: A huge improvement on the regular Old Overholt, and a good budget rye. I still prefer Rittenhouse, however. If you want a more robust version of this, look for the new Knob Creek Single Barrel Ryes

Score: 80 out of 100

 

Whistlepig 10 Single Barrel Exit 9 W&L

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Alberta Distillers, Canadian Whiskey, Rye WhiskeyLeave a comment

Maker:0x4c,Date:2018-1-12,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

Paid: $70 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Alberta Distillers / Whistlepig

Region: Canada / Vermont

60.4% ABV

Aged For: 10 Years

Mashbill: 100% rye

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: No

 

 

Color: Dark copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Vanilla, mint, oak, rye, herbs, pepper, cinnamon, caramel

Feel: Full bodied

Taste: Rye, cinnamon, leather, oak, caramel, vanilla, mint, and earth

Finish: Warm, and lasting, with oak, spices, sweet tobacco, coffee, cream and cinnamon

Thoughts: Not as good as the last single barrel WP I had but still a good buy in the current market, and a nice alternative to the MGP and Kentucky ryes.

Score: 87 out of 100

 

High West Rendezvous Rye Bourbon Barrel Finish

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, American Whiskey, Blend, MGP, Rye Whiskey, SourcedLeave a comment

HW RR Bourbon Barrel

Price: $70 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: MGP & Barton / Constellation Brands

Region: America

57.7% ABV

Mashbill: MGP: 95% rye, 5% barley, Barton: 80% rye, 10% corn, 10% barley

Aged For: NAS (MGP: 6 Years, Barton: 16 Years)

Cask Type: New charred American oak, finished in ex-bourbon barrels and additional 1.5 years

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Chestnut

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Rye spices, oak, caramel, pepper, cloves, and coffee (No MGP dill here)

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and dry

Palate/Taste: Rye, mint, pepper, oak, toffee, and herbs

Finish: Medium warmth and length. Rye and herbs with bourbon oak and bitter chocolate

Thoughts: The ex-bourbon casks mellow the RR out a bit, but if you are not a fan of the herbal dill profile of MGP they tone that down as well. Good, but not great.

Score: 82 out of 100

 

 

High West Double Rye Ace Spirits Quady Port Finish

On By MajorHopIn American Whiskey, Barton, Blend, MGP, Rye Whiskey, SourcedLeave a comment

HW DR Quady Port

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: MGP & Barton / Constellation Brands

Region: America

55.4% ABV

Mashbill: MGP: 95% rye, 5% barley / Barton: 53% rye, 37% corn, 10% barley

Aged For: NAS (2 year MGP & 16 Year Barton) Additional 2 years and 6 months in Port Barrels

Cask Type: New charred oak, finished in Quady Port barrels

Chill Filtered: No

 

 

Color: Reddish Mahogany

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Thick caramel and raisins, cinnamon, chocolate, oak, and brown sugar

Mouthfeel: Intermediate and wet

Palate/Taste: Rye spices, rich dark fruit, mint, blackberries, and leather

Finish: Light to medium warmth, long lasting, oak, cinnamon, cognac, port, and caramel with a bit of rye

Thoughts: Delicious, it’s obviously very similar to MWND but with the spice turned down and the fruit notes turned up.

Score: 86 out of 100

 

Old Portrero Single Cask Chardonnay “K&L”

On By MajorHopIn 65-69, American Whiskey, Anchor Distilling, Rye WhiskeyLeave a comment

Old Potrero SB K&L

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: Anchor Distilling / Hotaling & Co

Region: California

55.3% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted rye

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: New charred oak, finished in Chardonnay casks

Chill Filtered: No?

 

 

Color: Orange Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Rotted grapes, rye spice, fruit and more white grapes, caramel, and oak.

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Green oak, rye, grapes, mint, vanilla, pine,

Finish: Medium length and warmth, sour grapes, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and pepper.

Thoughts: There’s this sour wine note throughout that does not pair well with the natural herbal rye tones here. I don’t know if it’s the base malt I’m disagreeing with or the cask finish, but this one isn’t for me.

Score: 65 out of 100