Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Few Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Few Rye Whiskey

46.5% ABV
$55 – $65
Website

What the Distillery Says

BORN OF HEARTY GRAIN AND PATIENCE.
The generous rye content is married with the sweetness of corn for a genteel interpretation of the venerable spirit. Patiently aged in air-dried oak barrels, its spicy character transcends mere resurgence. Behold – the renaissance of rye.

Mashed, fermented, distilled, aged at least one year in charred new oak barrels, and bottled by FEW Spirits, LLc. Evanston, IL

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright rye spice, mint, dill, lemon furniture polish with notes of pine.
Palate:  Crisp, bright sharp with lemon spice, mint and a touch of cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with dried mint and light pepper.
Comments:  I’m not sure where the ‘patience’ comes from in their claim, since they don’t list an age. It tastes fairly young to me, although I happen to like young rye (maybe the only whisk(e)y category I don’t mind in the 2-3 yr range). While I don’t mind young rye, I’d never cough up over $50 for a bottle of this. If you’re considering it for some other reason (maybe you live in Illinois and want to support local craft?), I’d urge you to try a pour first.

Rating: Average

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Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Yrs

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Quinta Ruban Aged 14 Years Port Cask Finished

46% ABV
$45-$55
Website
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 yrs Old

What the Distillery Says

A voluptuously silky spirit, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is aged first in bourbon casks for smooth, fruity notes. We then finish this single malt whisky in ruby port casks to create velvety depth.

Our Quinta Ruban port cask finish brings chocolate boldness to Glenmorangie’s renowned smooth style. Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel, it is savoured all over the world.
Aroma: Dark mint chocolate, tangerines and Seville oranges mingle with sandalwood and walnut before giving way to a spicy finish of pepper and nutmeg.
Taste: Mint chocolate and walnuts envelop the palate like velvet, laying the foundations for rose, Turkish delight and sweet Seville oranges.
Finish: Long lasting silky aftertaste leaving dark chocolate mints and traces of orange.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Mellow malt with rich notes of port, hints of milk chocolate, berries, smoke and leather.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel to start with green apples, pears, chocolate covered cherries; a sharp bite in the mid palate with some pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with dark fruit notes, oak and some pepper spice.
Comments:  I tasted this side-by-side with the original Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, which is 12 yrs old. I found the nose on this to be similar but with more depth and richness. On the palate, the mouthfeel was creamier at the start, but then got sharper with more depth in fruit. The finish was the most similar, maybe a tad longer. 2 yrs may not sound like a lot, but it was a bigger change than I expected. While a bit more sharp, I don’t mind that as Glenmorangie’s house style tends to be on the smooth side. The fact they’re offering this at the same price I think is outstanding. If you’re a Glenmorangie fan, and in particular a fan of the 12 yr Quinta Ruban, I’c consider this a must try.

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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Catcher’s Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Catcher’s Rye Whiskey

49.4% ABV
$50
Website
Two James Catchers Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Distilled from 100% Michigan rye and pure water from the Great Lakes, Catcher’s Rye is a testament to the grain’s distinctive terroir. Each drop is artfully produced and aged for a minimum of two years in traditional, charred new American oak 53 gallon barrels. With delicious spice notes and a subtle fig finish, Catcher’s Rye proves there is no substitute for time or proportion. This is a labor of love, accept no phonies.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright, intense rye spice with fresh mint, caraway seeds, blood oranges with a squeeze of lemon, dill, hints of tarragon and thyme with a wisp of smoke.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, orange marmalade on rye toast, cinnamon sprinkles with allspice, hints of ginger, a bit of pepper and faint anise near the end.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with citrus spice.
Comments:  This is a pretty intense rye. My first impression of the nose was that this was a young rye, as I find many young ryes have that intensity and pop on the nose – but when I sipped it; completely exceeded my expectations.  I reached out to Two James distillery with some questions, and was delighted when David Landrum -the founder – took the time to provide a detailed response!  Here’s a summary of what David shared:

Mashbill: 100% Michigan Rye (specifically a northern variety: Hazlet)
ABV at Still: Between 65-70% (note that this is lower than many larger distillers, who are coming off closer to the maximum allowed limit for bourbon at 80%)
Barrels: We only use large format (minimum 53 gallon) oak barrels with varying char levels, mostly #3 and #4
Age: We have no age statement on our rye at the moment but everything released is between 4-6 years.
Maturation: Barrels are aged in a rickhouse on the farm where we grow the grain, non temperature controlled

Many rye whiskies are what I’d call ‘barely legal ryes’, meaning that their mashbill is 51% rye with a fairly high corn content.  Four Roses has a rye bourbon mashbill that has 35% rye, so these are closer to that than to a 100% rye mashbill.  Corn brings a lot of sweetness to the party, and David was looking for to “create an assertive whiskey”.  I’d say he certainly succeeded.

Frequent readers (all 6 of you) are aware that I’m not a fan of what is often referred to as ‘craft whisk(e)y’, because candidly too many of them cut corners with smaller barrels. I really appreciate Two James not taking this course, and more than that – for producing a delicious rye whisk(e)y.  If someone had poured this for me blind and asked what I thought, the word ‘craft’ wouldn’t have entered my thought process.  Sure, you’re paying a premium because of the smaller scale, but if I still lived in Michigan where this is easier to find, I’d have no problem keeping a bottle on hand.  And if you’re a rye whiskey devotee, I’d strongly encourage you to seek this out!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival

50.5% ABV
$150 – $160
Website

What the Distillery Says

Master’s Keep Revival is made from a blend of Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon aged 12-15 years before finishing in at least 20-year-old Oloroso Sherry casks, hand-selected by Master Distiller Eddie Russell. The result is a one-of-a-kind, 101 proof sipping whiskey with aromas of cherry pie, raisins, citrus, nuts and a touch of oak. It delivers soft and creamy hints of spice and sweet tropical fruits on the palate and a long and lingering finish of dried apricots, honey and subtle spice. An homage to a bourbon pioneered by Jimmy Russell, it’s a must own for the serious whiskey collector.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Like stepping into a rickhouse on a warm summer morning; musty oak, vanilla custard with salted caramel, raisins and dark cherries with nutmeg and allspice.
Palate:  Rich caramel flan topped with raisins that were soaked in vanilla extract, then sharpens to a cinnamon pepper spice.
Finish:  Long, drying with tannic oak, honey and a nutty spice.
Comments:  This is delicious, and is fine example of where I think a finish with bourbon really shines – and by that I mean it isn’t dominating. It is adding a little extra to what would be an otherwise lovely bourbon without the finish; not trying to upstage it or ‘improve’ average whiskey. While at 101 proof it doesn’t scream for water, I’d throw a few drops in as it really opens up nicely and rounds out the edges (although us Turkey fans dream of those spicy edges).

Rating: Must Try

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Stolen X Rock & Rye

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Stolen X Rock & Rye

40% ABV
$25
Website
Stolen X Rock and Rye
We would like to thank Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Stolen X.  Dangerously Good.
We believe that a good drink doesn’t have to be complicated to order or take forever to make.

Stolen X is based on a traditional spirit called Rock and Rye – a designated spirits category.

The history dates back to pre-prohibition days with a combination of new rye whiskey and rock candy. This drink knew how to get the party started.

We’ve since updated this OG classic with simple, premium ingredients: Stolen X is made with American rye whiskey, organic raw honey and orange peel. At 80 proof, Stolen X has a kick, but is smooth going down.

Shoot or sip over ice.

  • American rye whiskey
  • Aged over two years in new American oak
  • Fresh orange peel & organic raw honey
  • Affordable, all natural, gluten free

Stolen X is currently available at both on-and off-premise establishments in 750ml bottles with a suggested retail price of $24.99. This summer the brand plans to launch a One Liter($29.99) and 100ml cans($2.99)

What Gary Says

Nose:  Orange creamsicles, honey, subtle rye spice with mint, evergreen, and a hint of dill under rickhouse oak.
Palate:  Sweet thick honey and orange with a rye bite of cracked pepper near the end.
Finish:  Short to moderately long, with honeyed orange and a hint of pepper spice.
Comments:  ‘Rock & Rye’ isn’t really intended to be nosed like a whiskey; it really is catering to those looking for a pre-made cocktail. It is definitely on the sweet side, and the rye gives it a pop but doesn’t necessarily stand out on its own.

Rating: Average

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