Rye Whiskey

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$60
Website

We would like to thank Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

SHELBYVILLE, TENN. (November 10, 2022) — Nearest Green Distillery, makers of the most-awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019, 2020, and 2021, has announced that it will add three permanent expressions to its national portfolio before the end of 2022: Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey, Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label and Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Rye. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye, launched today, is the brand’s first new whiskey available to purchase online and at retailers across the country since the 2019 release of its 1884 Small Batch Whiskey.

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey furthers the brand’s commitment to honoring its namesake, Nearest Green, by creating the highest quality whiskeys possible. The November 10 release follows the sold-out launch of the distillery exclusive Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Rye Whiskey, which has already been met with rave reviews by critics and has received awards from top competitions including being named Best in Class at The Drinks Business & The Spirits Business Autumn Tasting. The 100-proof straight rye, hand-selected by four-time Master Blender of the Year and great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, Victoria Eady Butler, features a bold, decadent nose; a palate brimming with light vanilla cream, caramelized sugar, and the unmistakable spice of rye; complimented by a long, rich finish.

“It took us a while to release our 100-proof straight rye whiskey. If we were going to add rye to our lineup, it had to be worthy of all the accolades and awards our other whiskeys receive,” said Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler. “My great-great-grandfather’s legacy of excellence requires us to take our time to do things differently. I’m confident he would have been so proud of this straight rye whiskey.”

Due to the challenges around growing rye in Tennessee, this whiskey originates in Canada – according to the exact American specifications required to be a straight rye whiskey – and is then aged in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, where it is then rested in used Uncle Nearest barrels for additional maturation. The liquid is then tasted, barrel by barrel, and blended by
Victoria.

“When I was doing my research on Nearest Green, I came across a handwritten letter from President William Taft,” said Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest. “The letter was dated May 16, 1911, and was addressed to his U.S. Secretary of War, Jacob M. Dickinson, thanking him for sending his favorite rye whiskey ‘of the Lincoln County variety.’ This letter led me to believe rye whiskeys were being made in this area, so after I found that letter there was no doubt in my mind a straight rye whiskey would one day be added to our portfolio of whiskeys.”

This was a lofty experiment that worked. The results of this 100-percent rye mash bill, matured in used Uncle Nearest barrels before being bottled at 100-proof, keeps with our tradition of creating some of the most awarded whiskeys in the world. This is rye whiskey, elevated, hitting every mark with its rich flavor profile, incredible balance of spices, and extraordinarily smooth finish.

NOSE: Bold and decadent with notes of praline, nutmeg and white pepper.
PALATE: Brimming with light vanilla cream, caramelized sugar and the unmistakable spice of rye.
FINISH: Long, rich and well-balanced.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick with fresh donuts with maple frosting, cedar, vanilla, bit of citrus and cinnamon.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, orange marmalade, mint and a bit of clove.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with caramel, orange, chocolate and a mineral spice note.
Comments:  For fans of Canadian rye, this is a classic rendition of that – with a twist. That additional ‘maturation’ (which I’d refer to as ‘finishing’ if it were me – oh, and this is!) in used Uncle Nearest bourbon casks gives it a little something different. Not that Canadian rye has a lot of bite, but it tamps the edges a bit more and brings more caramel to the party. Adding a bit of water brings notes of toffee as well as a nuttiness I really enjoyed, although it is a lovely dram neat as well. This is similar to the recently released cask strength Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye. I did a side-by-side comparison (diluting that to 50% ABV), and they are quite similar – but not identical.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

47% ABV
$60
Website

We would like to thank Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and Praytell for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Continuing the brand’s commitment to deliver rare and unique rye-forward offerings, Redemption Whiskey announces the release of the latest addition to the brand’s highly sought after award-winning Specialty Series: Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey. Redemption Sur Lee was created utilizing a first-of-its-kind whiskey-making technique inspired by the French sur lie winemaking process and designed to add layers
of complexity and roundness.

The resulting whiskey is an entirely unique expression of rye, with rich taste, buttery notes, a silky finish and a hint of rye spice.

This whiskey innovation begins with Redemption’s award-winning classic pre-Prohibition rye mash bill, which boasts a rye content of 95%. Redemption then broke conventional whiskey-making norms by adding the flavorful backset that comes off the still during distillation, called the “whiskey lees,” into the barrels before aging. By periodically rotating the barrels during the aging process, the “lees” and whiskey continually interact and naturally infuse the whiskey with even more flavor. The “sur lee” method invigorates the rye’s complexity to further enhance and develop the whiskey. Before bottling, Sur Lee is non-chill filtered to maintain optimal flavors and aromas. The end result is a whiskey that’s deep and complex with a floral upfront, nutty backdrop and decadent, buttery notes of toasted marshmallow, maple and nutmeg, balanced with a lingering spicy finish.

Flavor Profile
Nose: Floral upfront with a lovely nutty, woody back drop. Evokes deep fruit notes of dried mango, bergamot orange, and honey baked apples.
Palate: Round, rich and soft with decadent nutty and buttery notes that envelop the palate. Supporting notes of toasted marshmallow, maple, and nutmeg, balanced with Redemption Rye’s signature undertones of fennel and caraway.
Finish: A lingering, balanced finish that coats the palate. Spice fades into a hint of sweetness with warming flavors of­ pie crust, sweet pine, buttered popcorn, vanilla and dried fig.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Woodsy rye spice, dill, mint, lemon (leaning towards grapefruit) zest, orange blossom honey with apples.
Palate:  Round mouthfeel, nutty with vanilla, orange, apple, mint, nutmeg, savory spice notes with an earthy hint of mushroom and cocoa.
Finish:  Moderately long with fruity spice and vanilla.
Comments:  Definitely a unique addition to the Redemption rye family (and rye whiskey in general). This whiskey delivers on what I look for in a high-rye rye whiskey (not to be confused with a ‘barely-legal’ rye whiskey) with the fruit notes and dill, but there is an earthy nuttiness to this that really stands out. This isn’t earthy like a peaty scotch; it is a much more subtle play that still showcases the rye whiskey, but adds a lovely new dimension. The packaging isn’t my favorite – the glass bottle is slightly frosted and fades to black, giving it a more cloudy/dark appearance than the whiskey itself. I prefer just clean/clear glass; the whiskey is delicious on its own, but not a fan when the packaging makes it look “different” than it does in my glass. Also prefer an artificial bottle stopper over cork, which can deteriorate. But those critiques wouldn’t discourage me from buying a bottle – because I mainly buy for what’s on the inside. This is one of my favorites that I’ve tried from Redemption. Hoping we maybe see a barrel proof release in the future!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try