Rye Whiskey

Blue Note Honey Rye Cask 2025 Release
Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Honey Barrels

(58.245% ABV
$65
Website

We would like to thank B.R. Distilling Co and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Blue Note Honey Rye Cask begins its journey by embracing the art of fusion. American oak barrels used for finishing are repurposed to produce a delicious, locally sourced, barrel-aged honey. We then return the bourbon to these honey-infused casks for another round of aging to create a distinct and harmonious profile. Blue Note’s bold and spicy notes blended with nuanced flavors of wildflower honey guarantee that with each sip, you’ll enjoy an intricate balance strength and sweetness.

Honey Rye Cask Tasting Notes
Nose: Very Light Apricot, Vanilla, All Spice, and Oak
Taste: Caramel, Hints of Apricot, Oak, Floral Finish, All Spice
Finish: Soft and Balanced, Light texture with lingering hints of Wildflower and Honey

Blue Note Honey Rye Whiskey is now available for purchase online at BlueNoteBourbon.com and in select U.S. markets. Approximately 13,000 bottles are available for the suggested retail price of $64.99.

Blue Note’s whiskey portfolio is distilled in partnership with Lofted Spirits (parent company of Green River Distilling Company) and then aged just north of downtown Memphis where the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers collide. The long summers filled with infamous Memphis heat and cooler evenings forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor that’s bold yet smooth.

Technical Details
AGED: A minimum of three years
PRODUCT TYPE: Straight Rye Whiskey
MASH BILL: 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley
PROOF & FILTRATION: 116.49 Proof, Unfiltered
Crafted in Memphis, TN

What Gary Says

Nose: Honey, caramel, mint, oak, vanilla wafers and brown sugar.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with honey, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, chocolate, apricots, apple and a bit of mint.
Finish: Moderate in length with honey, spices and a touch of oak.
Comments: Similar to the Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask, honey is prominent here. While I enjoyed that quite a bit, I like this even better as the spiciness of the rye gives this more balance. I’ve also always found that at three years old, rye can be ready and enjoyable where bourbon needs just a bit longer. This is a really nice pour, and this replaces the Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask as my favorite selection from Blue Note! My one critique would be the price, but as a limited edition offering that’s less of an issue.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey

47% ABV
$45
Website

We would like to thank Minden Mill and Raptor Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

MINDEN, NV (July 21, 2025) – Minden Mill Distilling announces the nationwide release of its Single Estate Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey – a flavorful expression that aims to take American rye in a new direction with a focus on balance over spice. A true representation of Nevada’s high desert terroir, the 94-proof, non-chill filtered four-year-old whiskey is crafted with grains harvested from local fields carefully cultivated and overseen by Minden Mill, and distilled at the state-of-the-art estate distillery, which was recently named Nevada Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition.

Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan produces Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey using a distinctive mash bill of 80% rye, 10% soft white wheat and 10% estate-malted barley. Minden Mill’s Rye reflects the high-desert environment—where dramatic temperature swings and a tight 90-day growing season deliver a rye with an earthy, nutty flavor profile and natural depth. The distillate is cut with snowmelt-fed water sourced from the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe.

As a member of the Estate Whiskey Alliance and a licensed Nevada Estate Distillery, Minden Mill is among a select few U.S. distilleries committed to full grain traceability and oversight at every stage of production that happens on its 1,200-acre estate. The distillery exceeds both the Nevada state and Estate Whiskey Alliance standards by sourcing 100% of the grains from within five miles of the distillery from land under Minden Mill’s control. With every step—milling, fermentation, distillation, maturation, and bottling—taking place on-site, the distillery is an innovator in expressing American whiskey terroir, particularly in the often-overlooked rye category.

“Very few producers own the full process from grain to glass, and that’s where Minden Mill Rye starts to stand apart. We don’t just distill the whiskey – we grow it,” says Master Distiller O’Sullivan. “Unlike most rye whiskeys, you won’t find any spice bombs here. It’s far more savory and balanced than most people expect. This mash bill was designed to highlight the candied orange peel character that is our house style.”

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye is distilled through a combination of a single Headframe continuous stripping still and a state-of-the-art Christian CARL hybrid still, both housed in a former 100+ year-old creamery onsite. The whiskey is aged in Seguin Moreau New American oak barrels with a #3 char in traditional wooden rickhouses calibrated to mimic the temperature and humidity of Kentucky’s Nelson County, ensuring a consistent, gradual maturation. The result is a rye whiskey that balances bold oak influence with mature complexity.

Tasting Notes:
Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey offers aromas of bright orange peel and toasted spice, dancing with warm vanilla. On the palate, succulent cherry syrup and crème brûlée enter the conversation, mingling with orange zest, baking spices and soft, subdued oak. The finish is long and lingering, replete with candied fruit, warm graham cracker, and a pleasant minerality balanced by spice and sweetness.

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey is available nationally with an SRP of $45 and online at mindenmill.com. The Minden Mill single estate whiskey portfolio also includes an American Single Malt Whiskey and a Nevada Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with sour apple candies, grapefruit, charred oak, mint, honey, anise and cinnamon.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with grapefruit, honey, black cherry, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, mint and oak.
Finish:  Moderately long with anise, apple and pepper spice.
Comments:  A damned nice rye, with a spiciness and bite that don’t leave you wondering about if this is one of those ‘barely legal ryes’ with 51% rye. I’m not usually a grapefruit fan, but don’t mind it in this. Appreciate the non-chill filtering, which shows up in the mouthfeel. This is one that I wouldn’t add any water to – neat from the bottle as the distiller intended, it shines quite well at 47% (although I did find a few drops of water amps the honey and caramel notes on the nose, thins out that lovely thick mouthfeel a bit and brings the cherry notes forward on the palate). Also appreciate that they were very responsive to questions (clarifying that they use French Oak barrel heads on their 53 gallon casks which might bring a little more spice to the party). This is my first experience with Minden Mill, and it’s a strong start.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try