Rye Whiskey

Barrell Rye Batch 004

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Barrell Rye Batch 004

57.85% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Rye Batch 004
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

  • A blend of straight Rye Whiskeys
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 115.7 proof cask strength bottling

DERIVED MASH BILL:
Rye: 89%
Corn: 7%
Malted Barley: 4%

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..

Rating: Must Try

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Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

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Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

49.5% ABV
$25
Website
Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
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.

Rating: Stands Out

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WhistlePig 12 Year Old Bespoke Barrel Rye

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WhistlePig 12 Year Old Bespoke Barrel Rye
Straight Rye Whiskey Aged in Cognac Cask

43% ABV
$170
Website
WhistlePig 12 yr Bespoke Barrel Rye Whiskey Aged in Cognac

What the Bottle Says

Bottled Exclusively for Total Wine & More

What Gary Says

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.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Rye Private Release 1A11

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Barrell Rye Private Release 1A11
Rye Whiskey Finished in Armagnac Cask

60.05% ABV
$110
Website
Barrell Rye Private Release Whiskey

What the Blender Says

Private Release rye whiskeys are painstakingly assembled from Barrell’s deep stocks of rye whiskeys. After creating precise custom blends, we finish each assemblage in single casks, many previously used for other spirits or wines. Each single barrel release explores the huge range of spicy, herbaceous, and earthy flavors within rye itself, as well as its interactions with a kaleidoscope of different finishing casks.

For this special series, BCS selected Rye whiskeys from Indiana and Canada and then blended them into unique recipes with variations on a theme. Beginning with 10 initial selections, each release will feature a blend of Rye whiskey designed for its unique finishing cask.

  • Rye Whiskey finished in an Armagnac Cask
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Bourbon Whiskey Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in an XO Cognac Cask
  • Rye Whiskey finished in an Oloroso Sherry Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Madeira Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Ruby Port Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Barbados Rum Cask
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Sauternes Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Tokaji Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye toast, cedar, fig jam, subtle citrus notes and a hint of nylon rope.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, a citrus-heavy fruit salad with bitters, black cherries, cinnamon, thyme, clove and pepper.
Finish:  Long and drying with honey, orange zest and pepper.
Comments:  The nose is deceptively soft for a rye whiskey, although that softness along with the cedar are familiar for Canadian rye. This dram benefits from some air time in the glass (some whiskey drinkers use the rule of one minute in the glass for every year in the cask; I don’t typically have that much patience but you’ll be rewarded if you give it just a few minutes!) Very citrus-forward palate, with a lovely herbal spiciness. If the nose lured you into expecting a sweet, soft taste – the palate is going to remind you “I’m all rye baby!” A bit of water really brightens up the citrus and brings forward some floral notes, as well as tamps down the spicy edges (without drowning them out all together).

Rating: Stands Out

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Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye

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Knob Creek 7 Year Old
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$37
Website
Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey
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 addition of an age statement to its flagship straight rye whiskey, Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. This update is a testament to the care and innovation behind the super-premium whiskey inside and reinforces Knob Creek’s commitment to continue to produce the world-class whiskies its fans know and love. Made pre-Prohibition style, Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye is carefully crafted and patiently aged for seven years in deeply charred barrels, producing a full-flavored rye whiskey with notes of American Rye spice, sweet vanilla and oak, in line with what fans have come to expect from Knob Creek.

Knob Creek has set the standard for American Whiskey for more than 30 years and has lived up to such standards with the addition of an age statement to its rye whiskey. Enjoyed as the base in an Old Fashioned cocktail or over ice, it doesn’t matter how you drink it, it’s all about how you enjoy it.

TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey brings the deliciously rich and savory notes of rye to life in a way that only Knob Creek can – creating a versatile, full-flavored straight rye whiskey that offers smooth spice in every sip.
PROOF: 100
COLOR: Amber brown
AROMA: Sweet caramel and vanilla mixed with deep round rye spice accompanied by apple and floral notes with a hint of leather
TASTE: Full body with balanced black pepper, sweet vanilla, and caramel finished with lingering oak and rich spice
FINISH: Warm and smooth with spice throughout

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, oak, toasted orange zest, fall leaves, hint of peanuts with rye spices.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, caramel, chocolate orange, vanilla, mint and honey.
Finish:  Moderately long with caramel, cola and orange.
Comments:  This is a really nice rye whiskey – well balanced, not too sharp/spicy and also not too subtle/sweet. It had been a while since I’d had the non-age stated Knob Creek Rye, and I wasn’t a big fan at the time. Then in 2018 when Beam released the Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye, I loved that – so knew that Beam had solid rye whiskey. Not sure what they’ve done beyond the age statement, but appreciate the end result. If you’ve tried the previous version and weren’t impressed, I’d definitely give this one a shot.

Rating: Stands Out

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