Van Brunt Stillhouse Rye Lot 23

Van Brunt Stillhouse Rye Lot 23

Official bottling
Single rye - New York 
Amber copper
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, nectarines, parchment paper, black pepper, applesauce, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Parchment paper, peaches, applesauce, cinnamon, gooseberries, caramel, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, caramel, raisins, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Quite tannic and herbal for a rye, and also quite delicate. There’s a slightly dusty, papery quality to it, one that goes well with the fragrant green tea notes. Rather unusual and rather good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cough syrup, corn syrup, cola nuts, brown paper, oak chips, honey, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, honey, corn syrup, cola nuts, leather, cherries, hints of sawdust. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, cherries, cough syrup, honey, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet and luscious, as a whisky with a high corn content would be expected to do. Some light spiciness from the rye but it’s not as prominent as one would expect.

Verdict:

I like this.

Stauning Curious

Stauning Curious

Official bottling
Single rye - Midtjylland
Colourless

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, raspberries, black pepper, orange peel, peat, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, soot, smoke, pears, orange peel, raspberries, foam shrimp. 
Finish: Long. Menthol, smoke, soot, raspberries. 

Comments: 

A very smoky, yet fruity rye new make. It doesn’t suffer too much from its low strength, in fact some of the fruity notes are more prominent as a result. The finish is long, minty and sooty.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

London Distillery Company Yesteryear 6yo (bottled 2025)

London Distillery Company Yesteryear 6yo (bottled 2025)

Official bottling
Single rye - London
Amber brown
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, dried apricots, dried pears, dried blueberries, raisins, black pepper, cloves, hints of farmyard. With water, strawberry jam, dried apricots, magic marker, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, volatile, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, dried pears, dried apricots, black pepper, brown paper, golden syrup, cloves, hints of orange juice. With water, pear drops, magic marker, black pepper, dried apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Dried pears, brown paper, golden syrup, orange juice, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

London rye whisky! The obligatory black pepper note is present but it’s overlaid with heaps of other things. Ribena, golden syrup, sweet dried fruit and even cloves. Water brings out estery chemical notes.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Green River Kentucky Straight Rye DSP-KY-10

Green River Kentucky Straight Rye DSP-KY-10

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peppermint, brown paper, popcorn, toffee, blackcurrant cordial, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peppermint, toffee, vanilla, cream, brown paper, popcorn, fresh baked bread, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, popcorn, vanilla, cream, blackcurrant cordial. 

Comments: 

Quite minty with lots of popcorn notes. The latter is not unusual for rye, but the former is. There’s plenty of cereal and bread too, which keeps it interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, barley sugar, corn syrup, brown paper, vanilla, caramel, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, evaporates, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, caramel, pear drops, brown sugar, corn syrup, barley sugar, hints of evaporated milk. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, caramel, black pepper, barley sugar. 

Comments: 

Quite strong ABV wise (or at least it tastes that way). It’s quite sweet with plenty of cereal notes coming through, with creaminess and also a hint of savoury coffee notes. Good peppery finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Roggenwolf Rye Batch 1 6yo

The Roggenwolf Rye Batch 1 6yo

The Story Of
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber copper
63.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Eucalyptus, strawberry jam, black pepper, peppermint, vanilla, lavender, foam shrimp, cream. With water, dried apricots, cream, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, volatile, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Strawberry jam, foam shrimp, black pepper, eucalyptus, dried apricots, vanilla, honey. With water, dried apricots, eucalyptus, black pepper, honey. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, rye bread, dried apricots, honey. 

Comments: 

Bardstown distilled. A herbal, peppery rye, with a strong eucalyptus note. It’s also sweet and jammy with notes of foam shrimp and strawberry jam. Water brings out even more eucalyptus.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The Peated

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The Peated

Official bottling
Single rye - East Highlands
Dark gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, lemon zest, black pepper, rye bread, coriander, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Vanilla, lemon zest, black tea, black pepper, coriander, smoke, sea salt, peat. 
Finish: Short. Peat, smoke, black pepper, coriander, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Quite herbal, plenty of that peppery rye note, but also married to peat, smoke, lemons and rye bread. Quite balanced, peated rye whisky definitely works. More please.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The PX

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The PX

Official bottling
Single rye - East Highlands
Dark amber 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, turpentine, raisins, pear drops, rye bread, orange blossom, hints of pine needles. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Turpentine, rye bread, orange blossom, sea salt, marmalade, honey, vanilla, black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Orange blossom, black pepper, sea salt, rye bread. 

Comments: 

Quite a chemical tasting whisky, the spicy rye note has been transmuted to oily turpentine and maybe some pine. It’s surprisingly salty, lots of rye bread and sea salt come to the fore in the mouth.

Verdict:

I like this.

Four Gate Whiskey 7yo Ruby Port-Rum Casks

Four Gate Whiskey 7yo Ruby Port-Rum Casks

Four Gate Whiskey Company
Single rye - Indiana
Amber red 
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Desiccated coconut, honey, burnt sugar, black pepper, nail varnish, vanilla, lemon zest. With water, vanilla, black pepper, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, nail varnish, butter, burnt sugar, brown paper, lemon zest, strawberry jam. With water, butter, black pepper, honey. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, lemon zest, nail varnish, brown paper, vanilla. 

Comments: 

MGP rye, and for a contract distiller they’re occasionally rather good. This one is quite decent, lots of the usual rye spiciness, but also a sweet, fruity butteriness, as well as strawberry jam.

Verdict:

I like this.

Leiper’s Fork 5yo Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond Batch 2

Leiper’s Fork 5yo Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond Batch 2

Official bottling
Single rye - Tennessee
Dark brown
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, raisins, black tea, brown paper, black pepper, leather, cardamom. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, brown paper, raisins, oak chips, brown paper, cinnamon, hints of cardamom. 
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, leather, brown paper, cardamom, oak chips. 

Comments: 

A very fruity rye, with plenty of herbal spicy notes too. Not only the usual black pepper, but also cardamom and cinnamon. It only turns oaky at the end.

Verdict:

I like this.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, black pepper, orange peel, custard, brown paper, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, black pepper, orange peel, brown paper, fresh baked bread, hints of gentian. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, brown paper, vanilla, hints of gentian. 

Comments: 

Rather bitter for a rye, lots of fragrant notes and some peppery spiciness. It’s also quite bready, which is a little odd, but that pepper note still comes through.

Verdict:

I like this.

New Riff Single Barrel B16-3518

New Riff Single Barrel B16-3518

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
52.15% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, rye bread, leather, vanilla, photocopy paper, dried apples, hints of dark chocolate. With water, black pepper, vanilla, coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, cherries, honey, cough syrup, cooked rice, dried apples, dark chocolate. With water, sea salt, rye bread, coffee. 
Finish: Short. Dark chocolate, cherries, honey, black pepper. 

Comments: 

A rather sweet rye, but with that black pepper spiciness. Water brings out more of the rye cereal flavour, and a coffee bitterness. Other than that, lots of dried apple notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Tennessee
Amber
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Golden syrup, bananas, magic marker, caramel, fresh baked bread, hints of chocolate. With water, malted grains, raisins, icing sugar, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, volatile, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Golden syrup, malted grains, toffee, oak chips, caramel, chocolate, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, raisins, blackcurrant cordial, fresh baked bread, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, fresh baked bread, chocolate, malted grains, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and gentle, lots of salted caramel and blackcurrant notes. It’s an intense but short finish - plenty of chocolate! Water brings out more blackcurrant, almost making it like cough mixture.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Copper Fox Rye 12mo

Copper Fox Rye 12mo

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Light amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackberries, blackcurrant cordial, oak chips, magic marker, maple syrup, raisins, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, blackberries, magic marker, malted grains, black pepper, strawberry jam, cherries. 
Finish: Short. Magic marker, pear drops, strawberry jam, cherries, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Surprisingly well flavoured despite its young age. Lots of berries and stone fruit, mainly cherries. Rather cough mixture like, with without the medicinal flavour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wilderness Trail Settler Select Rye

Wilderness Trail Settler Select Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky

Amber gold
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, peanut butter, magic marker, black pepper, chocolate, leather. With water, magic marker, black pepper, cream, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Magic marker, chocolate, peanut butter, black pepper, camphor, peppermint, blackcurrant cordial, hints of leather. With water, camphor, peppermint, peanut butter. 
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, camphor, peanut butter, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and chocolatey, perhaps a bit less spicy than some other ryes. Water brings out some peppermint and peanut butter. If a sweet tasted like this (perhaps a chocolate truffle) I’d scoff a lot of them.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

New Riff Single Barrel Rye B16-12094

New Riff Single Barrel Rye B16-12094

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber bronze
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, toast, fresh baked bread, popcorn, vanilla, nutmeg, sea salt. With water, fresh baked bread, toast, vanilla, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pear drops, popcorn, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, black pepper, black tea. With water, butter, cinnamon, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, pear drops, blackcurrant cordial, cinnamon, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Buttery and rich, quite a lot of pepper notes. A long fruity finish with lots of spice. A rather good rye, some unusual notes that stand out.

Verdict:

I like this.

MB Roland 2yo Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 2

MB Roland 2yo Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 2

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky 
Amber, hints of red 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, orange peel, malted grains, sandalwood, cinnamon, hints of brown paper. With water, vitamin C tablets, fresh baked bread, cornflakes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Sea salt, honey, brown paper, orange peel, fresh baked bread, cornflakes, white pepper, hints of sandalwood. With water, brown paper, oak chips, vitamin C tablets. 
Finish: Short. Cream, malted grains, honey, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Peppery and spicy, and quite sweet. It belies its very young age, not many plasticky notes. Water brings out some dustiness and paperiness, even woodiness. The finish is quite good, lovely creamy maltiness.

Verdict:

I like this.

Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Straight Rye

Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Straight Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, butter, Demerara sugar, raisins, orange peel, black pepper, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, turns watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Demerara sugar, butter, raisins, brown paper, black pepper, orange peel, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, raisins, black pepper, Demerara sugar, hints of cooked rice.  

Comments: 

Quite sweet and luscious, lots of sugary notes with a big stick of butter. It’s rye, so it’s peppery and spicy too. There’s some odd cereally notes, with rice coming through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kyrö 6yo 2018/2024

Kyrö 6yo 2018/2024

Pienso Ruskea Koira, Little Brown Dog Spirits
Single rye - South Ostrobothnia
Amber, hints of red 
53.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, new plastic, rubber bands, rye bread, brown paper, hints of strawberry jam. With water, orange peel, brown paper, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, sea salt, brown paper, rye bread, coffee, rubber bands, salt caramel. With water, salt caramel, coffee, orange peel, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Medium. Salt caramel, rye bread, sea salt, coffee. 

Comments: 

Peppery and spicy, but with an odd hint of new plastic. There’s something a bit sulphurous too. Water brings out salt caramel and coffee, as well as something a little sweeter.

Verdict:

I like this.