Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey is double distilled from a rare mash bill of 100 percent rye grain. A “robust cut” is selected by master distillers, then the unfiltered spirit is aged in new charred American Oak barrels in cold weather. Lock Stock & Barrel 16-year is a tightly woven fabric of aromatics, with notes that suggest roasted acorns, sour grass, wild cherries, stewed blackberry, dried pear and sassafras.
What Gary Says
Nose: Christmas spice, cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, hints of clove and anise, sour oak, subtle orange zest, honey, bit of brown sugar and cocoa. Palate: Chewy and warm mouthfeel, chocolate orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, mint, pepper and oak. Finish: Long and damp with citrus, white pepper and honey. Comments: This is a really nice spicy rye! The oak is there as you’d expect with 16 years, but it isn’t overoaked. A bit of water brings out some eggnog on the nose, and orange bitters on the palate. While I miss the days of 7 year cask strength rye for $50 or less, in this market coming in at $10 a year for high proof rye with age is reasonable.
Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, Aged 6 Years
50% ABV $50 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.
What the Distillery Says
Ross & Squibb Distillery releases Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof Limited release of hand-selected, six-year-old rye whiskey puts Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery’s 175-year rye tradition on full display
ST. LOUIS (August 17, 2023) – Lawrenceburg, Indiana-based Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the newest member of the Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey brand family: Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Hand-selected by Ross & Squibb Distillery Master Distiller Ian Stirsman, Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey is set for limited release of 3,000, 6-in cases in time for National Rye Month this month and will be available at select retailers at a suggested price of $49.99 per 700 ml bottle.
Aged six years and offered at 100 proof, Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey features a mash bill consisting of 51% rye and 49% barley malt. This release was distilled in March of 2017.
“I’m proud to continue Ross & Squibb’s tradition of creating high-quality rye whiskey that dates back to 1847. Since that time, we have worked to perfect our craft, giving our rye whiskeys unmatched character,” said Stirsman. “For our Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey we combined our industry leading rye expertise with a new high malt mashbill to create something truly special. We then let the barrels mature for a minimum of 6 years, resulting in aromas of sweet malt, dark chocolate, raisin and saddle leather with tasting notes highlighted by caramel and mocha with a rich, candied-fruit body, followed by a slight green-apple, malted-chocolate and cinnamon finish.”
“With the growing American whiskey market, compounded by the craft-cocktail revival across America, we are seeing a growing interest and demand for dark, more-complex spirits,” said Shanae Randolph, Marketing Director-Brands for MGP’s Luxco Branded Spirits. “Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey arrives at just the right time, as it is made the way rye whiskeys are supposed to be and is perfect in cocktails made the way they used to be.”
What Gary Says
Nose: Malt, subtle citrus zest, chocolate, dried mint, worn leather, oak and a hint of cedar. Palate: Orange with caramel, orchard fruits (apples, pears), mint, nutmeg and cinnamon. Finish: Short to moderate in length, drying with fruit and cinnamon. Comments: I really love this mashbill, with no corn and loads of barley malt. Compared to Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof, this is a completely different whiskey, and incredibly unique. It is still sweet despite the absence of corn, but more herbal and fruity. That amped herbaceous character makes this a phenomenal rye for cocktails, as well as a treat for the whiskey geek to explore neat. It doesn’t need any water, but a few drops brings out some kiwi on the nose along with both nectarines and peaches on the palate.
57.85% ABV $90 Website We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Blender Says
10-year-old Indiana Rye barrels with notes of brown sugar and a touch of smoke had 5 and 6-year-old barrels layered in for fruit and spice character. 14-year-old Canadian barrels were added for their dry herbal notes. The result is fruit-forward rye with layers of depth.
BLEND COMPONENTS: Indiana: 5, 6, & 10 years old Tennessee: 5 years old Kentucky: 6 years old Canadian: 14 years old
FLAVOR NOTES This rye blend highlights rye’s earthier side, featuring notes of tobacco, leather, and mole poblano. Its stewed fruit and wilder savory character recall the syrahs of France’s Rhône valley: blackberry and tapenade on the nose followed by flavors of bresaola and black pepper.
Neat Appearance: Copper penny with pumpkin highlights. Nose: Blackberry, dried apricot and Concord grape lead off. The grape introduces woodsy tones of blonde tobacco, birch oil and dandelion root. Rye lends its familiar bouquet garni, lemon verbena, and peppermint aromatics. Meanwhile an unhurried maturation has produced cashew, tahini and nocino. Palate: The first impression mirrors the nose but here grape soda is joined by a dark amber maple syrup. Burnt marshmallow leads into rich espresso and black licorice. There’s a deep umami presence of leather, black olive, and grilled onion. The oak here is strong and extractive yielding clove, coconut oil, and pine needle. Finish: A burst of blanche armagnac and rosewater volatiles make way for the piquant heat of mole poblano and black pepper on the tongue. The lingering impression is of juniper, thyme, and wormwood.
With a splash of spring water
What Gary Says
Nose: Fruity with blackberries, grapes, lemongrass, mint, mandarin orange and a hint of cedar. Palate: Thick mouthfeel chockful of fruit notes including grapes, apricots, orange and a hint of lemon, bit of maple syrup and cinnamon. Finish: Moderately long, drying with pepper and savory herbs. Comments: This is a lovely, savory and herbal rye – ideal in my mind for cocktails. I’m still jealous of the mad skills the folks who do their tasting notes possess, but just as impressed with the blending chops that BCS employs. This is a really nicely balanced whiskey, subtly sweet but more savory with herbal and spice notes. Not typical for a rye, but definitely has that rye-vibe going on, and is a must-try for true rye whiskey fans out there..
49.5% ABV $25 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
This whiskey is 51% rye, 45% corn, 4% malt, and 100% genuine. Bottled at an honest 99 proof, it’s a real straight shooter.
“Based on the success of Ezra Brooks 99 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, we have elevated the proof for both the Ezra Brooks Rye and Bourbon Cream variants,” said Eric Winter, brand manager for Ezra Brooks. “Ezra Brooks 99 Rye drinkers will find the same great rye-whiskey taste, but with enhanced flavor delivered by the higher proof. Similarly, our new Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream delivers a bolder, richer expression of the bourbon-cream flavor our customers love.”
TASTING NOTES: Hints of chocolate, leather, vanilla, and spicy grains, balanced by slightly sweet and oaky tones.
What Gary Says
Nose: Lemongrass, fennel, dried mint, leather, vanilla and a hint of oak. Palate: Caramel, nutmeg, toffee, citrus spice with a bit of chocolate. Finish: Moderate in length, thick with trailing caramel and oak spices. Comments: For a 2 year old rye (minimum, bottle states aged for a minimum of 24 months), this is pretty decent. It’s priced reasonably for today’s market, where most other ryes are coming in at lower proof. For fans of rye, this isn’t going to knock your socks off like the Old Ezra 7 Year Rye – but it’s a third (or less) the price. Nothing objectionable for me as a sipper, and a perfectly serviceable cocktail rye. A bit of water thickens the palate a bit and brings the citrus out from the shadows.
Nose: Cognac, grapey, cedar, oak, soft spices with dill, subtle lemon zest and a hint of anise. Palate: Soft, floral, caramel, mandarin orange, vanilla, light spice with mint and cinnamon, grapes and a bit of pepper. Finish: Moderately long, drying with orange zest and cognac. Comments: This is an interesting dram. At first I misunderstood and thought this was ‘cognac finished’ (and I’m not sure if that isn’t the case, since I don’t think you could label it ‘straight rye’ unless it was aged in new oak for at least the first two years). No idea how long this was in a cognac cask, but the nose is heavily cognac influenced. The palate isn’t as sharp as a typical rye, although the low 43% ABV is a factor. It absolutely has that family resemblence to what I expect are its Canadian rye whiskey roots – which is a good thing in my book. Not sure I’d pay the retail price for this, but if someone is offering me a pour – I’d gladly accept. Complex, layered, well balanced (if heavy cognac on the nose, it is better balanced on the palate), and delicious neat.
