Rye Whiskey

High West Double Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West Double Rye Whiskey
Batch no. 4 Bottle No. 510
46% ABV/92 Proof
$30 to $40
Website

What the Bottler/Blender Says:
Marriage of two straight rye whiskies that combines the feisty properties of a high rye 2-year-old and the saddle smooth richness of a 16-year-old. The 2-year-old has a 95% rye 5% barley malt mashbill. The older rye has a “barely legal” rye mashbill of 53% rye and 37% corn. The extra age and corn provides some extra sweetness to calm the “bite” of the younger rye for a relationship that works.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pine needles, orange zest, licorice, and herbal tea.
Palate: Mellow in the mouth with notes of orange blossom honey and vanilla.
Finish: The finish is dry with lots of oak and black peppercorns. It’s not a very long finish but it’s forceful.
Comments: This is one of my favorites from High West. It’s very drinkable and the young and old ryes play off each other in very interesting way. This is must try for rye drinkers and something even non-rye drinkers should try not to pass up.
Rating: Must Try

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Michter’s Single Barrel Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey
Barrel No. H135-62
42.4% ABV/84.8 Proof
$35 to $40
Website

What the Distillery Says:

Renowned for rye, America’s first whiskey, since our founding in 1753, we take production of every barrel of Michter’s Rye very seriously. Our US*1 Rye is made from select American rye grain that is sheared to enable the saturation of more flavor during fermentation. It is then aged in a heated warehouse. This premium rye has hints of light spice, black pepper, marmalade and plum, spicy grain and light caramel.

Production: Single barrel. Limited quantities.
Bottling Strength: 84.8 Proof (42.4% Alcohol by Volume)
Cooperage: Fire-charred, new American white oak barrels.

What Richard Says:
Nose: This is very sweet on the nose. I get burnt caramel, vanilla latte, and a peach & plum fruitiness.
Palate: This one is fun to roll around in the mouth. Surprisingly creamy for a young-ish rye. Sweet and spicy. Caramel and white pepper.
Finish: Oak and pepper. It’s a little hot on the finish. Surprisingly so given how smooth the palate is.
Comments: The folks at Chatham sent over their entry level trio. Of the three this is by far my favorite. It’s tasty, easy to drink, and makes a mean cocktail. My only real complaint is the price point. That’s really a general complaint for the entry range. This is a solid rye but there are others in the sub-$30 range that give you just as much with more bang for you buck.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank Emily with Chatham Imports for sending over a bottle for review.

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Templeton Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Templeton Small Batch Rye Whiskey
40% ABV/80 Proof
$39.99
Currently very hard to find

What the Distillery Says:
Upon first impression, the unique, small batch rye whiskey presents a rye spiciness and almost bittersweet taste that is found in the rye grain. Other impressions are dried fruit, toffee, caramel notes and allspice flavors.

Color: Deep amber
Nose: Mellow, yet complex balance
Palate: Dense mixture of spiciness with sweet undertones of dried fruit, toffee, and caramel
Finish: Clean and spicy

What Richard Says:
Nose: Licorice, clove, cocktail bitters, and something meaty that I can’t put my finger on. It all comes together in a pleasant way.
Palate: You really get that characteristic spicy zing from rye. It plays with a notable sweetness reminscent of candy. Candied fruit maybe?
Finish: It finishes warm and spicy.
Comments: I really like this one. It’s a shame that it’s so hard to get a hold of. With LDI (the original source) running low on aged rye stock we may not see too much relief in that regard in the near future.
Rating: Stands Out

Our thanks to The Baddish Group for providing us review samples.

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Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond

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Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
50% ABV
$15 to $20
Widely availble in the U.S.

What the Distillery Says:
Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or Monongahela rye whiskies, Rittenhouse is a much acclaimed rye now enjoying a renaissance in the major metro markets of the country. Available in the standard 80° bottling or in a special Bottled In Bond expression, Rittenhouse is a tribute to the classic rye whiskies that were once the preeminent American whiskey style, kept alive through the many lean years by Heaven Hill and two other Kentucky distilleries.

What Richard Says:
Nose:Caramel, wood, and something meaty.
Palate:Very smooth in the mouth for a 100 proof whiskey. Much more luscious than the 80 proof expression. Spicy rye notes with a cinnamon under current stand out.
Finish:The finish is all spice but again smoother than I would’ve expected of this proof.
Comments: There are so few remaining “secret” drams out there of great whiskeys at great prices. I fear that by telling all of you about it this one will become less secret still. A great value dram that all rye and cocktail drinkers should have in their bar.
Rating:Must Buy/Best Buy

What Matt Says:
Nose: Oak, honeydew, and caramel dominate.
Palate: Slightly oily, though not as much as the 80 proof.  The oak is a lot more prevalent in this expression.  Bitter and resinous oak notes skip about with deeper toasted notes (some char too),  There is a dry, pungent tobacco note nestled in there.  Caramel, mint, anise (clove reveals itself with a little water).
Finish: Minty and numbing (even more so than the 80 proof expression).
Comments: I would like to amend my statement from our review on the standard Rittenhouse expression.  It’s not that the Bottled In Bond version is better, but that it’s more versatile.  Without water, you get a high test rye that tastes great.  If you water to 80-90 proof, you get all the complexity of flavor we found in the standard expression.  Even a small amount of water makes this puppy blossom like honeysuckle in Spring.  I really cannot recommend this more highly.  It’s dirt cheap and really great.  I’ve been told that it’s becoming hard to find in some markets because of the rye lust that hit the country a little while back.  Be patient though, after the hipsters and mixologists move on to tiki drinks or some other thing, you can stock up on this again.  It’s always on my shelf.  So if all else fails, have a dram with me.  My wife even likes it!
Rating:  Must Buy/Best Buy

Overall Rating:Must Buy/Best Buy

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Rittenhouse Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Rittenhouse Famous Straight Rye Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$15 to $20
Widely Available

What the Distillery Says:

Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or Monongahela rye whiskies, Rittenhouse is a much acclaimed rye now enjoying a renaissance in the major metro markets of the country. Rittenhouse is a tribute to the classic rye whiskies that were once the preeminent American whiskey style, kept alive through the many lean years by Heaven Hill and two other Kentucky distilleries.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Spicy and oily with hints of tobacco hide under the surface.
Palate: Sweeter than expected at first and then the sweetness continues to dance around the edges of the palate. The middle palate is oak with mild spice.
Finish: Smooth. Most likely from the low alcohol content rather than the character of the whiskey. The aftertaste is chewy with kind of a bitterness that isn’t unpleasant. It leaves you rubbing your tongue on the side of your mouth.
Comments: This particular whiskey comes in two expressions, the standard reviewed here and the bottled in bond version. It is almost universally accepted that the BIB version is superior. I don’t disagree but don’t dismiss the standard bottling out right. It’s a solid rye that can go down straight but makes excellent cocktails.
Rating: Average

What Matt Says:
Nose: Cloves, orange zest and pipe tobacco (a rich, sweet blend).
Palate: That pipe tobacco is right there, along with some oak, anise and clove.
Finish: Smooth. The bitterness Richard alludes to reminds me of when pipe tobacco gets too moist and some of the juices back up into the stem (sharp and sweet).  However, what I get most is a minty taste and a menthol-like numbness that I associate with menthol or clove cigarettes.
Comments: Like Richard, I believe this one really shines at 100 proof.  The 80 proof version represented here is quite tasty and a good introduction into the world of rye whiskey, but the extra water really cuts out some of the complexity.  If you are looking for a gateway rye or a great mixer for old time cocktails, look no further.
Rating: Average

Overall Rating: Average

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