50% ABV $20 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
ST. LOUIS (March 16, 2023) – Lux Row Distillers announced the newest variant in the Rebel brand family: Rebel 100 Straight Rye Whiskey. Rebel 100 Rye is set to reach retail shelves across the country later this month at a suggested retail price of $19.99 per 750 ml bottle.
Rebel 100 Straight Rye Whiskey delivers smooth, spicy rye flavor via its 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malt mash bill. Offered at 100 proof, Rebel 100 Rye features a spicy nose that opens into rich rye flavor balanced by hints of vanilla.
“Based on the continued success of both Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, we’ve elevated the proof of its rye counterpart,” said Eric Winter, brand manager for Rebel. “Rebel 100 Rye drinkers still will enjoy the award-winning smooth, spicy rye flavor of Rebel Rye at a proof level that amplifies its taste profile and stands out even better in classic cocktails.”
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla, creamed corn, subtle citrus, mint, bit of brown sugar and honey. Palate: Honey, orange, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper. Finish: Short and damp with orange bitters, pepper and mint. Comments: This is a younger whiskey, age stated at 24 months (which is the minimum age for a straight rye whiskey), and it comes across as such. Appreciate the higher proof, and rye is the one whiskey I find that is palatable at a young age, although I do hope that there are some more mature offerings in their future. This is a perfectly serviceable rye whiskey for cocktails, and at $20 is at the entry price for rye. Most $20 rye whiskies are lower proof, which would make this preferable if you’re value shopping.
Oak & Eden Whiskey Customizer Whiskey Apostle Selection: Rye Whiskey (114 Proof) Finished With A Port Wine Soaked American Oak Spiral
45-57% ABV $65-80 Website We would like to thank Oak & Eden and Champlin PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
DALLAS, February 16, 2023 – Today, indie whiskey brand and spirits innovator, Oak & Eden, unveils a project it’s kept under wraps for nearly three years – Whiskey Customizer. Living within the brand’s Anthro Series line of whiskey collaborations with artists, musicians, actors and creators, Whiskey Customizer enables the customer to be the creator, crafting their own whiskey bottle from the comfort of their home using one of the Oak & Eden’s four finished whiskey bases and over eleven infusion options. Whiskey Customizer is exclusively offered online at OakandEden.com.
Oak & Eden’s proprietary In-Bottle Finishing technique was just the start of the founders’ vision. Rooted by the innovative spire, the brand developed Whiskey Customizer, becoming the first national spirit brand to offer single bottle customization for the masses. Whether you’re an avid whiskey fan wanting to experiment or looking for that perfect gift for a loved one, Whiskey Customizer has a little something for everyone.
“Five years ago, we embarked on a journey to revolutionize the spirits industry and bring something unique to the market. The wooden spire and patented finishing process were simply the tools that led us to Whiskey Customizer – the true innovation,” comments Oak & Eden Co-founder and CEO Joe Giildenzopf. “Today, as we celebrate its long awaited debut and our anniversary, we are paving the way for a new era of personalization and experimentation within the spirits industry.”
To kick off the experience, customers are invited to build their custom bottle by selecting a desired whiskey base out of Bourbon, Four Grain Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon or Rye. Each base has been aged a minimum of three years. All four whiskey bases are available in 90 proof ($64.00 / 750ml bottle) and 114 proof ($79.00/ 750ml bottle).
After selecting the base and proof, builders may then choose the preferred wooden spire to be infused or inserted into the base with no infusion. Wood options include an American Oak spire, lending a sweet and toasty finish, or a French Oak spire, lending a floral and peppery finish.
Builders can also select their spire to be infused with Coffee, Vanilla, Grapefruit Liqueur, Orange Liqueur, Pineapple Liqueur, Blackberry Liqueur, Cabernet, Port Wine, Rum, Honey, or Maple Syrup which is then inserted into the bottle. Oak & Eden plans to add to its infusion options, introducing seasonal and limited l-batch options quarterly, making the possibilities with Whiskey Customizer truly limitless.
As a final step, customers can make the bottle theirs by personalizing the label.
Each customized bottle is available for shipping nationwide and ready to drink following the recommended six-week In-Bottle Finishing process.
As a part of its education efforts, Oak & Eden shares popular bottle creations, describes the characteristics and notes associated with each selection and provides cocktail recipes that best accompany each bottle.
“The launch of Whiskey Customizer allows our customers to unleash their creative spirit, one bottle at a time, in a way that has never existed before,” says Oak & Eden Co-founder & CMO Brad Neathery. “As important as making the new experience seamless on our site was providing visual and educational tools on building a whiskey, an often misunderstood and intimidating spirit. We are a whiskey for the people, inviting and empowering anyone to be a creator.”
Check out oakandeden.com for more information on Whiskey Customizer as well as the brand’s full lineup of whiskies.
What Gary Says
Nose: Orange marmalade on rye toast, heavy port, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, oak and hints of dill. Palate: Rich and thick, plums, raisins, orange bitters, honey, cinnamon, demerara sugar and pepper. Finish: Moderate in length, damp and syrupy with port and chili spice. Comments: I was offered the opportunity to create my own, so of course I picked what I thought I would enjoy the most (or at least what I was the most interested in trying). And I was right – I do really enjoy this! As a whiskey geek, I enjoyed the experience of making my selections, and anticipating the bottle’s arrival – enough so that I’ve ordered another (will share that review later!) Is this identical to finishing a whiskey in a used port barrel? No, but I’m not a purist when it comes to that. I’m all about what’s in the bottle, and the enjoyment I get from that – and I really enjoyed this combination!
One note (which I emailed them a few weeks ago on, so hopefully has been fixed) – I received an email about a week AFTER I received my bottle, and that email instructed me to wait three weeks AFTER receiving the bottle to open and enjoy. I’d already opened and made a couple of passes (within the first week). I did set it aside for a few more weeks, and found that I hadn’t changed a ton – but I’d also taken the bottle down about 1/3 in that time. So when you order yours, have a little patience.
UPDATE JUNE 2023: In ordering a second bottle I found that the issues mentioned above have all been addressed, which is great! Kudos to Oak & Eden for addressing quickly!
60.5% ABV (for sample provided; varies by barrel) $90 Website We would like to thank Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
Bottled at cask strength, this Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey is what other ryes work hard to grow up to be. Tennessee does a lot of things well; growing rye is not one of them. So, we sought out the best from other states. Each of our inaugural barrels hails from New York, where they aged in new American oak for a minimum of four years after a short stint in B.C., where they were born.
These barrels began as a lofty experiment in 2017. Was it possible to create an ultra-smooth whiskey, with flavor galore, made from 100% rye? That was the question. The answer took a while but was well worth the wait: hell yeah.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rye toast, corn flakes, salted caramel, orange honey, cinnamon and a hint of anise. Palate: Caramel, orange bitters, bursting with rye spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper and lemongrass. Finish: Moderately long, drying with chili spice and citrus. Comments: I tried this side by side against the Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey, which probably isn’t a fair comparison. The Uncut/Unfiltered is $60 more, but is the same mashbill, and the descriptions of treatment are similar (although both are non-age stated, and I suspect that is where the difference lies – besides this offering being a single barrel). While there is similarity between the two, I preferred the other. I found this to be a bit hot, thinner, and likely a bit younger (although not “young”). Now as a single barrel, maybe the one I tried is an outlier. It does take water well, and thickened up nicely. This is a very spicy and hot rye – which I think makes for a great cocktail.
Stellum Black The Lone Cypress Cask Strength Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies
57.67% ABV $100 Website We would like to thank Stellum Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
This savory and delicate rye blend is defined by notes of dried herbs and pine, with a hint of salt-air salinity. It’s named for one of the world’s most famous trees, found on the picturesque coast of the Monterey Peninsula.
TASTING NOTES Color: Russet. Nose: Soft aromas of cedar and a buckwheat honey sweetness. Slight notes of burnt orange peels and an apricot kernel-like nuttiness. Lingering pleasant spices like toasted allspice and peppercorns. Palate: It immediately coats the mouth and presents a flavor reminiscent of saltwater taffy. There are satisfying notes of ripe apricot and peach skins complimented by freshly baked pastry dough. Finish: On the exhale, there are faint flavors of chamomile tea and more baked goods like an apple cider donut. The orchard fruit flavors persist and become jammy.
With 3 drops OF WATER: The slight addition of water brings out its savory edge. Now crushed peppercorn becomes more present, bringing subtle notes of fennel and licorice along. The fruit notes soften and become akin to poached pears and cinnamon.
What Gary Says
Nose: Honey, fresh cedar, pine, mint, orange zest, cinnamon, and a hint of juniper. Palate: Thick with nectarines, cinnamon, mint, light caramel, peaches, pepper and savory herbs. Finish: Moderate in length, drying with cinnamon, lemon and pepper. Comments: I can’t recall getting juniper in a whiskey before (in fact when I first nosed, I wondered “Is this a whiskey finished in gin barrels?”) It isn’t that heavy – but just caught me by surprise. Grapefruit comes out with some water, and it softens the palate while keeping that lovely viscosity. This is a rye whiskey for folks who really like that sharp, acidic bite that rye offers (not that ‘barely legal rye’ nonsense, although I enjoy those as well).
57% ABV $80 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
ST. LOUIS (Nov. 1, 2022) – Lux Row Distillers announced the newest variant in the Ezra Brooks brand family: Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey. A limited allocation of 3,000 six-pack cases of Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey will reach retail shelves across the country later this month at a suggested retail price of $79.99 per 750 ml bottle.
Like other members of the Ezra Brooks brand family, Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey is distilled using the highest-quality ingredients and charcoal filtered for mellow flavor and a smooth finish. Old Ezra 7-Year Rye features two rye mashbills (51% rye whiskey and 95% rye whiskey), is aged a full seven years and is bottled at full proof (114 proof, or 57% ABV) to deliver a full, complex flavor.
“With Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey, we’ve delivered a rye whiskey worthy of the Old Ezra label,” said Lux Row Distillers master distiller John Rempe. “This tasty 7-year-old rye offers slightly sweet and oaky tones with hints of vanilla and honey, and it finishes with a warm touch of spice and tobacco. It’s certain to become a favorite among both rye fans and fans of the Ezra Brooks brand family.”
The introduction of Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey comes on the heels of Old Ezra 7-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey’s recent “Best Overall Bourbon” win at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Like its bourbon namesake, Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey features a high-end, custom-designed bottle. Its green, jewel-toned label is highlighted by a 7-year age statement and gold and copper foil accents.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich, chocolate with toasted orange zest, cinnamon, honey, nutmeg, fruitcake and pipe tobacco. Palate: Thick and warm, chocolate with orange bitters, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, nutmeg, bit of anise and clove with tangerines. Finish: Moderately long, damp with citrus, pepper spice and cocoa. Comments: I love rye whiskey around this age range and proof. This one in particular with the various spice notes on the nose left me with the impression of ‘Christmas in a bottle’. Just really nice mouthfeel, those big spice notes you hope for in a rye, and a nice balance with sweetness (and a chocolate note that I don’t get a ton with rye). A bit of water brightens it up, bringing out some mint and rickhouse must, with the mouthfeel transitioning to creamy.
