Rye Whiskey

Stellum Black Rye

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Stellum Black Rye
Cask Strength Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

57.13% ABV
$100
Website
Stellum Black Rye
We would like to thank Stellum Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Louisville, KY (December 7, 2021) – Earlier this year, Stellum™ Spirits launched its flagship Stellum™ Bourbon and Stellum™ Rye whiskeys to celebrate the modern-day whiskey drinker. Today, the brand proudly introduces Stellum™ Black: a limited-release premium expression of the inaugural offerings, designed to carry the same classic, cask strength flavor profiles into a more refined, elegant, and complex blend.

Produced by Barrell Craft Spirits®, Stellum™ Spirits is the result of years of industry-leading innovation in American whiskey. The brand strives to improve the flavor, process and ideals of traditional American whiskeys, while underscoring the importance of nuance and polish in a paired down and minimalist setting.

Stellum™ Black reveals a natural evolution of the inaugural cask strength bourbon and rye whiskey blends, using a meticulous blending approach to layer older reserve barrels into the original blends. The result is something both entirely new and deeply familiar.

“For Stellum Black, we maintained the soul of Stellum while creating a new dimension of flavor by adding reserve barrels from our stocks,” said Joe Beatrice, Barrell Craft Spirits Founder. “We’ve refined this layering technique over time which produces whiskeys focused on both immediate flavor and a long-developed complexity. The result is an entirely new set of whiskeys that has its roots firmly planted in the inaugural whiskeys.”

Stellum Black Bourbon™ and Stellum Black Rye™ were distilled and aged in IN, KY and TN, and bottled at 109.22 proof (54.61% ABV) and 114.26 proof (57.13% ABV), respectively.
Stellum™ Black will be allocated nationwide and online via the Stellum™ website at www.stellum.com for the suggested retail price of $99 per 750ml bottle.

Stellum Black Rye is an evolution of the Stellum Rye flavor profile. Think of it as Stellum Rye in high-def. We used a meticulous blending approach to layer older reserve barrels into the original Stellum Rye blend. The result is a surprisingly mellow cask-strength rye whiskey combining iconic rye spice with a deep complexity that reveals new facets with every sip.

TASTING NOTES
Appearance: Marigold and Honey.
Nose: Bright notes of Ripe Blueberry and Green Jolly Rancher, balanced with warm aromas of dark brown sugar, and toasted almonds, and rounded out with something familiar like newspaper clippings.
Palate: Buttery and rich on the palate with flavors of chocolate mint, star anise, and sesame that leaves a finish of fresh dill and cracked black peppercorns.
Finish: Slow and warming; a full, well rounded experience.

With Water: The same bright nose with some fresh hay that balances with hot river rocks. A little green, a little salty, a little earthy. This is met with a taste that showcases the dry spices and toasted nuttiness of the first taste.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with green apples, peaches, pears, kiwi, mint, dill, tarragon, toasted orange zest and honeysuckle.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with a sharp pop of rye spice, mint, cinnamon, allspice, anise, pepper, vanilla, caramel, orange and honey.
Finish:  Long with cracked pepper, mint and citrus spice.
Comments:  A really delicious, spicy rye! I liked Stellum Bourbon over Stellum Rye, but I think I like this just as well as Stellum Black Bourbon. A bit of water thickens this pour up nicely, and brings out even more fruit with some mango coming through, along with peppermint. The water also tamps that sharp crack of spice (which I don’t mind), and does so in a way that it doesn’t lose the complexity.  When I imagine rye whiskey – this is it.

Rating: Must Try

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Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2021

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Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2021
Canadian Rye Whisky

63-67.0% ABV (sample reviewed @ 63.7%)
$75
Website
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye 2021
We would like to thank Alberta Distillers and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Alberta Distillers, Distillery of the Decade as named by the 2020 Canadian Whisky Awards, proudly announces its 2021 release of Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye Whisky into the U.S. market. Hitting shelves this month as a limited time offering, this premium whisky showcases Alberta Distillers’ expertise and skill in crafting true 100% rye whisky, which is a notoriously difficult grain to work with.

Made in Calgary, Alberta, Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye is crafted from 100% Canadian prairie rye grains grown by local farmers and nutrient-dense, glacier-fed spring water from the famed Rocky Mountains. The result is a perfectly balanced liquid that reflects the brand’s unique natural surroundings, Canadian heritage, and expert whisky craftsmanship.

“Following the success of Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye’s debut in the U.S. last year, we are thrilled to offer stateside whisky drinkers the limited 2021 release of our award-winning whisky,” said George Teichroeb, General Manager of Alberta Distillers. “When Alberta Premium debuted in 1958, we were one of the first distilleries to create a true 100% rye whisky, and this cask strength rye is the culmination of our hard work and dedication to crafting exceptional rye whisky.”

Highly revered by whisky enthusiasts, the 2020 release of Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye received numerous prestigious awards including Double Gold at the 2020 and 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competitions, Double Gold at the 2021 SIP Awards, Best All Rye Whisky at the 2021 Canadian Whisky Awards and 1st Place Best Canadian Whisky at the 2021 International Whisky Competition. This special whisky is best enjoyed neat with a drop of water or on the rocks, and features the following characteristics:

Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye:
Proof: 63-67%
Taste: Exceptionally smooth with notes of caramel, vanilla and a hint of chocolate balanced with the spiciness of rye and black currant
Finish: Smooth and lingering with the complexity of spice, warm vanilla, and dark fruit
Packaged in an eye-catching, faceted glass bottle, Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye will be available in limited quantities in select U.S. markets beginning in October 2021 for an SRP of $74.99 for a 750ml bottle. With demand and popularity gaining for the distillery’s premium spirits in the U.S, whisky fans can rest assured there’s more to come from Alberta® Premium in 2022.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla buttercream frosting, soft oak, cedar, mint, nutmeg, hints of maple and cherries.
Palate:  Caramel and vanilla, milk chocolate, black currants, cinnamon, nutmeg, subtle mint, cracked pepper with a bit of clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length with cedar, mint and lingering baking spices.
Comments:  Another really lovely offering from the folks in Alberta! I tried this side-by-side against a bottle of the original 2020 release, and they were incredibly similar – which is great news for me as I really liked that one!  It also benefits from some time in the glass to let the alcohol vapors dissipate, and thickens up nicely with some water. A few dollars more (which given this environment is more than reasonable) but well priced and more than fair in my opinion. If they maintain the same profile, this would be an annual pick-up for me. Too few cask strength 100% rye whiskies out there. Plus – this lovely bottle has a lovely screwcap closure which I’d rather have on ALL of my bottles!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2018

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Templeton Rye Barrel Strength 2018
Straight Rye Whiskey

57.2% ABV
$60-$70
Website
Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2018

What the Bottle* Says

Limited Bottling 2018
This special addition to the Templeton family is a barrel strength edition matured to perfection in flame charred American oak barrels. Natural, non-chill filtered and bottled at 57.2% ABV, this limited release is bursting with rye spice and black pepper giving way to summer fruits, butterscotch and oak. Templeton Rye Barrel Strength is both complex and intriguing and represents the expression in its purest form. This exquisite whiskey is a fitting tribute and salute to the town of Templeton – a small town with a strong spirit.
Produced and Bottled By:
Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC. Templeton, IA
Distilled in Indiana
* The Templeton Distillery website makes no mention of this whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright with mint, eucalyptus, lime, dill, ginger, subtle vanilla and pear.
Palate:  Rich thick mouthfeel, orange spice with cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, honey and mint.
Finish:  Moderately long with citrus notes, pepper and mint.
Comments:  This is a really nice, barrel proof rye. Although I don’t care for the lack of transparency (which is putting it mildly) from Templeton, and might not support them financially (this bottle was gifted), the whiskey itself is pretty delicious. And if you don’t care about the backstory and just want a decent high-proof rye, I think this fits the bill. A bit of water thickens, and damps down the edges nicely bringing out more sweetness.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Elijah Craig Straight Rye

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Elijah Craig Straight Rye
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

47% ABV
$25
Website
Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

The first extra-aged Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey to join Elijah Craig’s award-winning family of Bourbons. A unique combination of spicy rye grains and sweet corn, coupled with a steadfast attention to detail, give Elijah Craig Straight Rye the perfect balance of flavor and smoothness.

THE RYE MASHBILL
While the distillation process for Straight Rye is similar to our Small Batch Bourbon, the difference lies in the mashbill. It’s 51% rye grain instead of corn: the legal requirement for this style of American Whiskey.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Medium chestnut
AROMA: Dark chocolate with spices and a hint of smoke
TASTE: Rich baking spices and honey backed up with smooth oak influence
FINISH: Long and lingering

What Gary Says

Nose:  Toasted rye bread, mint, vanilla, citrus with hints of tarragon and dill.
Palate:  Soft entry with caramel, honey, a slight pepper bite with mint, cinnamon, chocolate orange and a bit of nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering citrus spice.
Comments:  A tame rye, but rye none the less. I’ve been a rye fan for years, and if I had a “standard house rye”, it would be Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond. Both being Heaven Hill ryes from the same mashbill, of course I needed to do a blind side-by-side! Quite similar, with this being slightly lighter in color, and a bit softer – with a bit less oak. My guess is that this is matured on lower levels than Rittenhouse, and could be older. For my personal preference, I liked the Rittenhouse better each time, although it was close – as the flavor was more intense. The Elijah Craig Rye had a bit longer finish, but other than that – seemed like a softer version. And I’m not looking for softer rye whiskey (but your mileage may vary).

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Elvis Rye

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Elvis Rye
Straight Rye Whiskey

45% ABV
$50
Website
Elvis Rye
We would like to thank Grain & Barrel Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Grain & Barrel Spirits announced on September 13, 2021 a long-term licensing agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) to launch a duo of Elvis Presley-themed whiskeys. Both expressions – rye and whiskey – were sourced and blended by an expert team of whiskey experts and bottled in Tennessee, where Elvis began his career and called home.

“Given our expertise within premium whiskey, the Elvis expressions are a natural fit for Grain & Barrel Spirits,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. “Elvis was one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and continues to inspire his fans today. We look forward to launching the brand, which is sure to be a highly sought after collector’s item.”

Both expressions feature an iconic photo of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” in his prime and pay homage to two of the legendary singer’s most popular nicknames: The King (rye), and Tiger Man (whiskey). The labels, which were created by Alyson Design, LLC, also feature notable references to Presley, including his signature and the letters “TCB” printed on the neck of the bottle, referring to “Taking Care of Business,” a phrase which was the mantra for Elvis and his Memphis Mafia.

Mash Bill*
95% Rye | 5% Malted Barley

Tasting Notes
Aroma: Sweet Rye grassiness, followed by hints of citrus and spice
Flavor: Toasted oak, butterscotch, vanilla wafers and a hint of pepper
Finish: Beautiful, sweet, complex finish with a velvety mouthfeel

* Distilled by MGP

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye spice with mint, dill, citrus zest, thyme and a bit of cedar.
Palate:  Caramel with tangerines, honey, mint, dried dill, hint of cinnamon and pepper.
Finish:  Short and drying with mint and pepper spice.
Comments:  First off, let me applaud the transparency in acknowledging that the distillate is coming from MGP. I know thanks to non-disclosure agreements some folks can’t share sources, but I always appreciate that they do when they can. If given an option to drink any form of whiskey at 2 years old, my pick would be rye every time (not that I wouldn’t prefer it with more age!) In particular this high-rye mash bill from MGP does well, with bright spice notes and more flavor than I get from a bourbon or other whiskey at the same age. I definitely enjoyed this more than the Elvis Whiskey, although the price point would similarly make it a collectible over a drinker for me.

Rating: Average

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