O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye
49% ABV
$80
Website
We would like to thank Brown Water Spirits LLC for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
The release of O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye follows the highly successful launch in October of the first in the River Aged Series, O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey. After a strong launch in Middle Tennessee, O.H. Ingram quickly moved into East Tennessee, including, but not limited to, the Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities markets.
“The response to O.H. Ingram River Aged so far has been beyond what I could’ve possibly imagined,“ said proprietor Hank Ingram. “Since our Straight Whiskey hit shelves in October, whiskey lovers have been able to experience the taste created by our unique aging process, and our Straight Rye will only deepen their connection to the Ingram River Aged Series.”
“Bourbon first became popular in America because it came down the river to New Orleans where it gained popularity and distribution. The goal of our process was to put the river back into American whiskey and see what effect it would have on the whiskey,” Ingram continued. “Even in the midst of the pandemic, we’ve found that people are always ready for a good story and a good drink. With O.H. Ingram River Aged, we offer both.”
The O.H. Ingram River Aged Series is the only whiskey aged inside a first-of-its-kind floating rickhouse moored on the riverbank in Ballard County, KY. Here, it’s exposed to the climate of the Mighty Mississippi River and its rise and fall. These factors combine to provoke a unique interaction between wood and spirit that isn’t possible inside a traditional rickhouse. The constant motion of the river ensures that the whiskey never stops working, creating an extraordinary spirit with a taste mature beyond its years.
O.H. Ingram River Aged is the result of blending entrepreneurship and innovation with traditional aging processes. While all whiskies are products of the environment, only O.H. Ingram River Aged is ‘Mellowed on the Mississippi.’
Hank is the latest in his family to take a great idea to the water. More than 150 years ago, his family began its American success story with two things — oak trees and a rushing river. Now, Hank is adding his chapter to this story by bringing together whiskey and the magic of the river to create O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey.
Ingram River Aged is currently available in Middle and East Tennessee with additional markets coming as inventories are available.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep burnished copper
On the Nose: Floral, subtle notes of caramel
Mouthfeel: Soft, butter, presence of rye spice
Palate: Vanilla, graham cracker, cinnamon, hints of hay and nutmeg
Finish: Butterscotch, bubblegum, raspberry preserves, hints of tobacco
What Gary Says
Nose: Floral and soft with herbal spices, notes of dried mint, cinnamon, lemongrass, touch of vanilla, oak and a faint hint of clove.
Palate: Vanilla with a spicy bite of cracked pepper and cinnamon, sour oak, nutmeg and caramel sauce.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, drying with a citrus (tangerines?) spice.
Comments: The history of American whiskey maturing on the river isn’t a marketing ploy. In fact, the time and interaction with the charred barrels during the trip from Kentucky to New Orleans certainly contributed to the rise in popularity of what came to be known as ‘bourbon whiskey’. Michael Veach has written on this topic and others (if you’re a fan of history and bourbon and aren’t reading him already, I’d highly recommend it as a trusted source). Now back then, the whiskey wasn’t spending years on the water, so this isn’t an attempt to recreate that – but to create something unique with a nod towards history. The whiskey itself is nice. Three year minimum age stated on the bottle, distilled by the fine folks at MGP with a mash bill of 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malted barley. I can’t say that I’d have pegged this for a three year old if tasting blind. The nose is fairly subtle for a rye, but the palate has that sharper bite rye whiskies are known for. I get more oak on the palate than you’d expect for the age, although this isn’t surprising given the increased interaction of river aging. While an interesting whiskey, the price point is disappointing
Rating: Average/Stands Out
