Rye Whiskey

Penelope Tokaji Cask Finish
8 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

53% ABV
$90
Website

We would like to thank Penelope Bourbon and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Rich and decadent, Tokaji Cask Finish straight rye whiskey captures the late harvest notes of Tokaji wine from Hungary, once dubbed, “the wine of kings” by King Louis XIV. Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, aged eight years and bottled at 106 proof, its two-grain mash bill consists of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. The rye whiskey features a nose of dark chocolate-covered raisins and almond pastry; a viscous body with notes of sweet honey and caramel with hints of orange zest; and a savory finish highlighted by notes of black cherry, tobacco and red wine.

“From consumers to tasting panels, our Tokaji Cask Finish was really well received last year,” said Michael Paladini, founder of Penelope Bourbon. “For the initial release we used a 6-year-old straight rye whiskey as our base, and we are excited to bring this back but with an 8-year base at the same price point.”

In 2023, Penelope Bourbon Tokaji Cask Finish received 91 points from Whisky Advocate and was awarded a Gold Medal ASCOT Award.

It is the third installment of the company’s Cooper Series, which takes Penelope straight whiskeys on a world tour. The other members of the series include Rosé Cask Finish, Valencia and Rio. The Cooper Series was named after the son of Daniel Polise, one of the founders and the master distiller of Penelope Bourbon. A product locator for the Penelope family of bourbons can be found here.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Big rye spice with dill, mint and citrus zest, floral notes with almond cookies and toasted oak.
Palate:  Dry with honey, mint, cinnamon, chocolate orange, caramel, clove and pepper.
Finish:  Drying with orange zest, fading spice and tobacco.
Comments:  This is an interesting dram. Only my second experience with Tokaji as a finish, but like the first it seems to be a very subtle influence. I really enjoy the rye whiskey itself, and have long been a fan of that 95% rye mashbill the folks in Indiana make. With a bit of water the mouthfeel thickens and brings the citrus notes forward. This is an unapologetic rye that’s dry, spicy and savory. I enjoy it neat, but it also makes a mean Preakness cocktail.

Rating: Stands Out

Broken Barrel x Black Hjerte Collaboration Collection

Blended Rye Whiskey Finished With Coffee Liqueur Barrel Staves

53.5% ABV
$95
Website

We would like to thank Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Broken Barrel’s newest release, Black Hjerte, an industry first, showcases a blended Rye Whiskey finished in two types of coffee liqueur barrels from Laurel Canyon Spirits. The result of both masterful blending by the company’s founder, Seth Benhaim, along with his sourcing of Laurel Canyon’s Black Hjerte Barrel-Aged Coffee Liqueur Barrels, is a warm and inviting whiskey that ushers in the winter months unlike any whiskey produced before. The blend features both Kentucky Straight Rye and Kentucky-distilled Light Whiskey, offering a truly exceptional tasting experience. The Oak Bill combines 2/3 of its staves from the standard Black Hjerte Coffee Liqueur, while the remaining 1/3 features staves from a limited-edition Blood Orange Coffee Liqueur barrel.

As soon as the golden amber spirit hits the glass, the aromas conjure an alluring blend of roasted coffee, vanilla, buttercream, and charred oak.

On the palate, the whiskey is a symphony of flavors that begin sweet, with caramelized sugar and orange zest notes, intertwined with rich and mildly bitter coffee notes. The result is a beautifully balanced fusion of coffee liqueur and whiskey, where the spirit’s underlying grain and vanilla tones gracefully share the spotlight with the coffee’s deep, earthy complexity. The finish is velvety and enduring, with a lingering and warming citrus sweetness from the blood orange liqueur staves.

Intended to be sipped neat or used to craft a ultra-premium cocktail, this coffee liqueur finished whiskey barrels guarantees a one-of-a-kind taste profile that is to be expected from Broken Barrel Whiskey, upholding their 2023 Icons of Whiskey – Brand Innovator of the Year title.

Mash Bill:
51% Rye
48% Corn
<1% Malted Barley

Oak Bill™
66% Coffee Liqueur Barrels
33% Blood Orange Coffee Liqueur Barrels

What Gary Says

Nose:  Oak with medium-dark roasted coffee, smoke, cigar paper, a hint of vanilla and toffee.
Palate:  Caramel, blood orange, coffee liqueur, vanilla, nutmeg and a touch of cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with coffee, cinnamon, caramel and pepper.
Comments:  The coffee liqueur influence is nice, and the blood orange shines through on the palate. A bit of water brought out hints of maple and salted caramel on the nose, and brought those forward on the palate as well. I enjoyed sipping on this.  I did find the underlying base whiskey to be overpowered. I inquired more into the whiskey and appreciate their disclosing that the rye is 3.5 years old (distilled by Owensboro, a 95% rye mash bill w/ 5% malted barley) and the light whiskey is 6 years old (distilled by Beam, a 99% corn and 1% malted barley mash bill). The mix is right around 50% rye (although somewhere there’s a typo because no ratio of those mash bills result in posted end result; and Owensboro does make a 95/5 rye). In any event, the coffee liqueur is dominant and I don’t pick up any rye whiskey notes (although to be fair, a blend of the two without any finishing staves might come across like a bourbon, and there are some bourbon notes on the palate). Often I criticize when the finish is ‘heavy handed’ – but I think for this brand, the finish IS the point. And like I said, I enjoyed it, which ultimately is what matters most!

Rating: Stands Out