Rye Whiskey

High West The Noble Share

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High West The Noble Share
Blend of Straight Whiskeys finished in Marques de Casa Noble Añejo Barrels

52% ABV
$175
Website
High West x Casa Noble The Noble Share Whiskey
We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Continuing the tradition of cross-category innovation, High West Distillery is partnering with Casa Noble Tequila on the release of The Noble Share, a blend of straight rye whiskeys finished in Marques de Casa Noble extra añejo barrels. High West, the Park City-based distillery, is known for its meticulously sourced and thoughtfully blended whiskeys. Casa Noble is a fine tequila built on seven generations of mastery using innovative methods that honor modern Mexican culture. This collaboration is something that will appeal to both whiskey and tequila connoisseurs. The dichotomy of the brands and their respective regions is reflected on the label, mirroring one another yet displaying their vastly different geographies. This is an exciting collaboration for the Spirits community and High West is honored to blend its’ whiskey traditions with Casa Noble’s heritage and offer this new expression to consumers.

This unique and limited edition expression leverages 4- to 10-year-old rye whiskeys and finishes them in Marques de Casa Noble añejo tequila barrels for 6 months. A portion of the blend is finished in Amburana barrels at a char of 3 or medium toast treatments for a small period to elevate the whiskey even further. This whiskey blends the heritage of High West Whiskey with the 7-generation legacy and craftsmanship of Casa Noble to create an exceptional bottle of whiskey that tastes and feels unlike any other. It is the first-ever collaboration between Casa Noble and High West.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Ripe mango, ruby grapefruit, spiced apple cider, piloncillo sugar, anise, allspice berries, mesquite wood, sunset walk through an agave field
Palate: Baked pear, charred peaches, ginger molasses cookie, freshly fried churro, orange blossom, cinnamon bark, black licorice, oak, leather
Finish: Pink peppercorns, dark agave honey on a sopapilla

Mash Bill
High West Distillery Rye (80% rye, 20% malted rye)
MGP Rye 4-10 years old (95% rye, 5% malted barley)

What Gary Says

Nose:  Tropical fruit notes of mango and candied pineapple, agave, floral undertones, tarragon, squeeze of lime, cinnamon, hint of anise and oak spices.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with pears, apples and peaches, cinnamon pastry, agave and blood orange.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with citrus and cinnamon.
Comments:  This is a really interesting whiskey! The tequila finish shines through but isn’t overpowering and really complements the core rye base. The amburana finish is also deftly managed, bringing that cinnamon roll note to the party. This drinks deliciously neat, but adding just a few drops of water opens up that amburana cinnamon roll with vanilla icing on both the nose and palate. High West has always been innovative and not afraid to try new things (I think back to when they released Campfire, a blend of bourbon, rye and scotch, back in 2012; made it my mission to hunt one down and was glad I did!) This may not be quite as groundbreaking as Campfire was at the time, but a very nice sipping whiskey.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Blue Note Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Blue Note Rye Whiskey
Straight Rye Whiskey

46.5% ABV
$35
Website
Blue Note Rye Whiskey
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

We age our barrels along the winding bluffs of the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee. The Delta heat and humidity provided by the long, hot summers cook our barrels low and slow like proper Memphis BBQ. This forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor.

Technical Details
Aged: A minimum of three years
Product Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Mash Bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley
Proof & Filtration: 93 proof, unfiltered

Sensory Notes
Nose: Vanilla and Spice
Body: Crisp
Taste: Crisp Apple, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Oak
Finish: Inherently smooth with lingering hints of vanilla,
apple, and spice

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, dried mint and a hint of lemon zest.
Palate:  Vanilla, cinnamon, slightly sour apple and a touch of mint.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with mint and vanilla.
Comments:  Rye is the one class of whiskey that I do find to be drinkable at three years old. This definitely tastes young, and I was surprised at the mashbill based on how soft this is. The apple note isn’t something I get on a lot of rye, which usually tends to have a more citrus bend. With a 95% rye mashbill, I expect more of that rye-spice bite which I didn’t get. Similar to Blue Note Juke Joint, nothing objectionable but also not special for the price point.

Rating: Average

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Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Other Whisk(e)ys, Review, Rye Whiskey /

Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye
Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey

56.5% ABV
$45
Website
Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey

What the Distillery Says:

Knob Creek® is excited to announce its first-ever, limited edition bourbon and rye blend to its award-winning* portfolio, Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey. Carefully crafted and seasoned by time, Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye brings together two of Knob Creek’s® premium whiskeys, Knob Creek® 9 Year Old Bourbon and Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye, offering fans an unforgettable experience unlike anything existing within the portfolio or many other offerings on the market.
Highlighting the perfect balance of Knob Creek® 9 Year Old Bourbon’s sweet notes complimented by Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye’s bold spice, this robust and complex whiskey brings bourbon and rye enthusiasts the best of both whiskey worlds. It’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks to unveil its sweet, fruity and spicy notes.
TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye is a masterful blend that brings together the richness of brown sweets and a hint of fruitiness and black pepper, with a sweet lingering spice finish that will leave you wanting more. This high-quality, flavorful whiskey is a testament to our dedication to deliver exceptional whiskey to enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
PROOF: 113
COLOR: Golden brown with copper hues, reminiscent of autumn leaves and evening sunlight.
AROMA: Enticing sweetness of maple syrup and vanilla, joined by hints of nuttiness and baking spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
TASTE: Rich and comforting sweetness of brown sweets, like caramel and toffee, complemented by a delicate hint of fruitness for added complexity.
FINISH: Gentle heat of black pepper, adding a touch of lingering spice.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, oak, fruity with cherries, plums and tangerines, mint, hint of maple syrup with polished leather and baking spices.
Palate: Caramel, peanut butter, chocolate, cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, citrus with a bit of cloves.
Finish: Moderately long with caramel, fruit, pepper spice and mixed nuts.
Comments: There isn’t a lot of bourbon rye blends on the market, and I’ve honestly never understood why that is. Many whiskey enthusiasts that I’ve known over the years have created their own blends, including blending from different distilleries. This is a delicious offering! Priced reasonably and at a solid 113 proof, this brings the best of both Knob Creek bourbon and rye into a single pour. Well balanced, I enjoyed this quite well neat, although a few drops of water thickens the mouthfeel nicely and brings the fruit notes forward.

Rating: Must Try

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Knob Creek 10 Year Old Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Knob Creek 10 Year Old
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$70
Website
Knob Creek 10 Year Old Rye
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

Knob Creek® is excited to announce the permanent addition of Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey to its award-winning* portfolio. Made pre-Prohibition style, Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey is carefully crafted and patiently aged for a decade in deeply charred barrels, bringing fans a full-bodied rye whiskey with distinct notes of spice, vanilla, and oak.

True to Knob Creek’s® unwavering commitment to producing high quality, full-flavored whiskey, this extra-aged rye invites aficionados and newcomers alike to experience its exceptional taste and craftsmanship. It’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks so fans can experience the depth at its height and drink what tastes right.

TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey captures the essence of its classic offering, Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye
Whiskey, but has deeper flavors imparted by the extra three years spent aging in the barrel. The result is a bold and complex, full-flavored straight rye whiskey that delivers smooth spice with every sip.
PROOF: 100
COLOR: Tawny with waves of copper
AROMA: Rich caramel and vanilla, deep rye spice, and dried apple
TASTE: Black peppercorn, creamy vanilla and caramel, and hints of deep oak and char
FINISH: Smooth, lingering notes of baking spice

THE HISTORY
Knob Creek has set the standard for super-premium whiskey for three decades by crafting extraordinary full-flavored bourbon with a rich taste. Knob Creek bourbons and ryes are patiently aged to perfection in new, maximum charred American Oak barrels to impart the biggest and fullest flavor on their whiskey. No matter the expression, Knob Creek is crafted without shortcuts and embodies the pre-Prohibition style that founding distiller Booker Noe created in 1992. Since then, Knob Creek has lived up to such standards with the introduction of Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey in 2012, and later on, Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Whiskey. In recent years, Knob Creek announced the permanent addition of Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon to its portfolio, launched two limited releases, Knob Creek 15 Year Old Bourbon and Knob Creek 18 Year Old Bourbon, and announced the addition of an age statement to its flagship rye whiskey, Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey

RYE WHISKEY
In the early 1900s, rye whiskey was the most popular spirit in America. However, Prohibition forced many whiskey fans to turn toward the sweeter, more robust flavor of bourbon. Now, thanks to the growing interest in high-quality craft spirits and a surge in contemporary cocktail culture brought about by the success of Super-Premium brands such as Knob Creek, bartenders and curious drinkers alike are turning to bourbon’s spicier counterpart, rye whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, oak, vanilla, cinnamon with herbal notes, nutty (walnuts rather than peanuts) with a hint of orange zest.
Palate: Pepper spice with vanilla, caramel, oak, nutty with herbal spices, bit of orange and a hint of mint.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with oak, nutty cocoa, vanilla and grapefruit
Comments: This rye offers an interestingly layered experience. I’m accustomed to more of a peanut note from Beam than walnuts, although that note sometimes disappears in the older whiskies. There’s a strong oak presence for 10 years old, and this has a sharp pepper bite – which you expect some bite in a rye whiskey.  For my tastes, this has a bit more oak than I’d prefer but this isn’t what I’d call an ‘oak bomb’ or ‘over-oaked’. However, a splash of water can mellow the peppery edge, making the whiskey more approachable and highlighting its complex flavor profile.

Rating: Stands Out

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Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Bulleit 95 Rye
Straight American Rye Whiskey

45% ABV
$27-$30
Website
Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Bulleit Rye is an award-winning, straight rye whiskey with a character of unparalleled spice and complexity. Released in 2011, it continues to enjoy recognition as one of the highest quality ryes available.
BULLEIT RYE WHISKEY TASTING NOTES
Russet in color, with rich oaky aromas. The taste is exceptionally smooth, with hints of vanilla, honey, and spice. Finish is crisp and clean, with long, lingering flavors.

What Gary Says

Nose: Fresh mint, dill, eucalyptus, menthol, lime zest, subtle vanilla and rye toast.
Palate: Crisp citrus spice with tangerines and lime, mint, thyme, caramel, honey and pepper spice.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with fading rye spices.
Comments: Wait . . . we hadn’t reviewed this before? This is a solid high-rye (not to be confused with a ‘barely-legal’) rye whiskey. I’ll admit that I wasn’t a fan in the early days, mostly due to the lack of transparency with the brand (which is still a fair critique). Setting that aside, the whiskey itself is solid for what it is. There are folks who don’t care for the ‘dill pickle’ but I find the strong lean into the spicy rye grain delivers nicely.

Rating: Stands Out

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