After successful experimentation was completed at Midleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland, Powers Distillery has released their first 100% Irish rye whiskey – Powers Irish Rye. Powers Irish Rye was matured in a combination of virgin, first-fill and re-fill American oak casks, bottled at 43.2% alcohol by volume [86.4 proof] and is said to offer notes […]
After successful experimentation was completed at Midleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland, Powers Distillery has released their first 100% Irish rye whiskey – Powers Irish Rye.
Powers Irish Rye was matured in a combination of virgin, first-fill and re-fill American oak casks, bottled at 43.2% alcohol by volume [86.4 proof] and is said to offer notes of banana, clove, ginger, maraschino cherry, orange, peppermint and toffee.
Powers Irish Rye is being made available for $32 per bottle, beginning on Presidents’ Day [February 20, 2023] in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK and the USA [as well as on the official Powers website – powerswhiskey.com].
Late last year, I was in Total Wine, planning ahead for things to review. There is an employee there who I chat with about bourbon when he’s working. It never hurts to get the ear of a liquor store employee. Even if a Total Wine employee is unlikely to help you score sought after releases, if they know that you know your bourbon, they are less likely to try to push Spirits Direct items your way.
Well, most of the time. This guy knows that I know my stuff. In fact, he’s an occasional reader now. And knowing that, he only suggests the Spirits Direct stuff when he honestly likes it. So when he told me that he honestly liked this one while also saying something to the effect of “I know, I know, Spirits Direct,” well, I decided to take a shot on it.
Painted Stave Distilling is a craft distillery and cocktail bar in Smyrna, Deleware. Located in the Old Smyrna Theater building, they are currently 9 years old. Just a couple of years younger than this site you’re reading now. They make gin, vodka, some liqueurs, an Irish-Style whiskey, a Bonded Corn whiskey, Bonded Bourbon, and of course this Bonded Rye whiskey. Here is what the producers have to say about their rye whiskey:
Painted Stave Rye is a shining example of our approach to branding at Painted Stave Distilling: celebrate and retell local history. Just to our south, Diamond State Rye (editor’s note: this seems to be an earlier brand name for their rye before it was a Bottled-in-Bond release) was originally made by the Levy & Glosking Distillery, which was shut down by the strong teetotaling movement in our county before prohibition. While the mash bills are likely different, many of the branding elements were inspired from the original design, and presently serves as the template for all of whiskies. DSRye, is a Maryland rye-styled whiskey, where corn is added to contrast the spicy nature of rye and produce a whiskey with more subdued spice and rounder subtler flavors. The sweetness of the corn helps balance the dry spiciness of the rye to yield a spirit that is right at home in a classic Manhattan or sipped on fresh ice. At least four years in heavily charred white oak barrels, no chill filtering, and ready to rock.
Alright, let’s see how it tastes.
Painted Stave Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey
Purchase Info: $41.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.80
Details: 4 years old. 50% ABV. DSP-DE-21002. Batch/Bottle Number: 5-297
Nose: Spearmint, caramel, anise, clove, and red fruits.
Mouth: Spearmint, bubblegum, cardboard, plums, and cinnamon.
Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium. Notes of spearmint, cinnamon, bubble gum, and cardboard.
Thoughts: This is a weird one. On the nose, it reminded me of Peychaud's Bitters with some spearmint and caramel. On the mouth, it reminded me of the gum that came with Topps Baseball Cards in the 1980s, along with spearmint and spice. Same with the finish. Honestly, this isn't for me. At least not on its own. In a Sazerac, it works wonderfully, probably due to its resemblance to Peychaud's. So, I'm pretty neutral on this one. I'll probably keep it in the cocktail cart and use it in cocktails.
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It’s been almost a year since I last reviewed a whiskey from Wild Turkey’s rye portfolio. Seeing how I recently purchased two 2022 Russell’s Reserve rye expressions, Russell’s Reserve Six Year Old Rye and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye, why not re…
It’s been almost a year since I last reviewed a whiskey from Wild Turkey’s rye portfolio. Seeing how I recently purchased two 2022 Russell’s Reserve rye expressions, Russell’s Reserve Six Year Old Rye and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye, why not review them together? Compare and contrast, and whatnot. If you take a look at […]
The Bardstown Bourbon Company has just released its Origin Series, the first whiskeys produced entirely in-house! The Origin Series Rye is aged for 5 years 8 months and finished in a “zebra” barrel of alternating toasted American oak and cherry wood staves. Read our review to find out what it’s like!
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Toasted Cherry Wood and American Oak Barrels 96 Proof Age: 5 years 8 months MSRP: $69.99 Review
Please enjoy our Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye Review!
The Bardstown Bourbon Company has just released their first rye whiskey produced entirely in house!
Exciting Time For The Bardstown Bourbon Company
These are exciting times for the Bardstown Bourbon Company! They have just released the bourbons of their Origin Series, the first whiskeys made entirely in-house and bottled under the BBC label! The bourbons will be the focus of separate reviews, and for now I will focus on the third whiskey in the series, the rye. The rye will be the last of the series to be released, reportedly sometime in March 2023. So of course, that is the one that I will review first.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye Review
No Ordinary Rye
As would be expected from the Bardstown Bourbon Company, this is no ordinary rye. It is aged for 5 years 8 months and finished in a “zebra” barrel of alternating toasted American oak and cherry wood staves. The mash bill is 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It is bottled at 96 proof.
Tasting Notes – Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye Review
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Citrus, like orange peel; fresh apples; rye spices, cooling spearmint & sweet brown sugar; cinnamon & cedar in the background; relatively mild alcohol Taste: Rye spices, brown sugar and honey sweetness, mild cherry; hints of rye bread Finish: A capsaicin spice builds into the fairly long finish joined by some dry oak and char later on. There’s that hint of rye bread again. Orange peel reappears and lingers. Moderate burn
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye has classic flavors of citrus and rye spices, but also much more. For example, fresh apples pleasantly provide a nice compliment to the citrus and spice. There’s also a fair amount of brown sugar sweetness for a rye. More flavors develop with each sip, such as the rye bread notes and cherry in the taste. The finish has the spiciness that I expect from a rye, but there are again complex flavors. The citrus and contradictory sweetness linger to the very end amidst the rising spice.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origins Series Rye Review
Conclusion
I would have expected no less from the Bardstown Bourbon Company. This is an excellent rye! I am looking forward to the official release so that I can grab a bottle (or two)! Have you tried any of the Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series whiskeys? What did you think? Cheers!
We hope you have enjoyed our Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye Review! Would you like to learn more about the distillery? Check out our Bardstown Bourbon Company Review.
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
It recently occurred to me that I’ve yet to write about my last visit to Kentucky – well, Kentucky and Indiana. Along with selecting two incredible barrels at Wild Turkey (more on that in a future installment), not to mention an epic Patreon meet…
It recently occurred to me that I’ve yet to write about my last visit to Kentucky – well, Kentucky and Indiana. Along with selecting two incredible barrels at Wild Turkey (more on that in a future installment), not to mention an epic Patreon meetup at Neat in Louisville, I had the pleasure of returning to […]
First, Wilderness Trail made some rye whiskey. After the barrels were dumped, maple syrup from Vermont aged in them. Then, after the syrup was dumped, the barrels were filled with 5 year old rye whiskey and aged another 6 months. An voila! We have Wilderness Trail’s first finished whiskey!! What’s it like? Read our Wilderness Trail Maple Barrel Finish Rye review and find out!
Wilderness Trail Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Maple Barrel Finish Walker Woodfill Distillers Select 98.30 Proof
Please enjoy our Wilderness Trail Maple Barrel Finish Rye Review!
Wilderness Trail’s First Finished Whiskey
First Wilderness Trail Distillery made some rye whiskey. After the barrels were dumped, maple syrup from Vermont aged in them. Then, after the syrup was dumped, the barrels were filled with 5 year old rye whiskey and aged another 6 months. And, voila! We have Wilderness Trail’s first finished whiskey!!
Wilderness Trail Maple Finish Rye Review
Tasting Notes
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Sweet, with brown sugar, dark fruits in the back like plums & dark cherries, orange citrus, rye spices & light cedar. Rich maple syrup becomes gradually more noticeable; moderate alcohol Taste: Interestingly, it tastes as it smells; the rye spices are there, mellowed a bit by the maple syrup. Finish: Black pepper spice builds in the long finish, but the sweetness lingers on; moderate burn
Wilderness Trail Maple Rye Review
The Effect Of Maple Syrup
The effect that the maple syrup has on this whiskey is quite interesting. Sweetness and rye spices are the first things that hit me in the nose. However, that sweetness is not initially identifiable as maple syrup. Later on, the rich maple syrup flavors become more noticeable but blend very nicely and are not at all overpowering. The same things happens in the taste; the Wilderness Trail Rye flavors that I love are there, and the maple blends with them in a very complimentary way. Even the maple syrup will not temper the spice that builds in the finish, and that’s a good thing!
There are a LOT of finished whiskeys out there these days! For some distilleries, that is pretty much their focus. Others, not so much, but nonetheless, almost all have dipped a toe. Some people love them, some purists hate them, but I think by now, almost everyone has found at least one that they enjoy. For me, the perfect finished whiskey is one where the base spirit is complemented by the finish, not overpowered by it. While that seems simple, I have tasted many finished bourbons that completely lacked balance. So, in practice, getting that balance must be a lot more difficult than it sounds.
Conclusion
Personally, I think rye stands up to finishing better than bourbon because of its naturally spiciness. Whereas with bourbon, the flavors can be softer, especially if not at higher proof, and easily overpowered. Wilderness Trail Maple Barrel Finish Rye has achieved the perfect balance. The finish is totally complimentary to the rye whiskey. I won’t go quite as far as to say that if you didn’t know it was a finished whiskey you might just think it was a very sweet rye, but it’s not that far off. Well done, Macaulay!
What is your preference – finished ryes or finished bourbons? Cheers!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
These days more than anything else, I am having fun playing with lasers. Well, kinda. I bought a laser engraver and have been using it to make all sorts of fun stuff. I love working with wood, but I’ve been a professional digital artist for 20 years or so. This combines the fun that I can have with digital art, with the fun that I can have with physical items and blends it in a way that is rewarding and, well, fun. So far I’ve just been burning designs into wood and cutting things out, but that will change as I get used to the medium. I can’t wait.
One slick segue later and you’ll find that I’m not the only one who’s been doing some blending. (nailed it) The folks over at Lux Row are back at it. This time extending the Ezra Brooks brand lineup with a rye whiskey that is a blend of rye whiskeys. Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey blends two ryes whiskeys. One with a mash bill that contains 51% rye and another that has a mash bill of 95% rye. That last one is one of my favorite styles of rye so I was pretty excited to see this one land on my desk. Especially since it is 7 years old and 114° proof. That made my day. Here is what the producer has to say about their new release.
"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."
Now that we know what the producer has to say, let’s dig in and see how it tastes.
Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey
Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Price per Drink (50 ml): $5.33
Details: 7 years old. 57% ABV. Blend of 51% rye mash whiskey and 95% rye mash whiskey.
Nose: Dusty aging warehouse, toffee, and an herbal mint.
Mouth: Rich mouthfeel. Toffee, mint, cinnamon, and oak.
Finish: Long and minty. Notes of herbal mint, toffee and cinnamon.
Thoughts: Even my wife who doesn't care for most rye whiskeys likes this. It is rich and sweet in the mouth with the minty rye notes taking over as the finish starts. This is tasty. I really am enjoying it.
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Dixon Dedman, the great-grandson of Kentucky Owl’s founder, revived the brand back in 2014. Their initial The Wiseman release, back in September 2021, was a bourbon. Kentucky Owl released The Wiseman Rye in April 2022. So what’s it like? Read our review to find out!
Please enjoy our Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Rye Review!
Kentucky Owl’s initial The Wiseman release, back in September 2021, was a bourbon. However, they released The Wiseman Rye more recently, in April 2022.
Kentucky Owl Was Founded in 1879
Charles Mortimer Dedman originally founded Kentucky Owl way back in 1879. However, when prohibition came along, it all came to an end. According to Kentucky Owl’s website, the government seized 250,000 gallons of Kentucky Owl whiskey and placed it in a warehouse. As the story goes, this warehouse caught fire and burned to the ground. However, it was suspected that the whiskey had already been removed to be sold in illicit speakeasies.
Dixon Dedman Revives The Brand
Dixon Dedman, great-grandson of Charles, revived the Kentucky Owl brand, and released their first whiskey back in 2014. Since that time, the Stoli Group acquired the brand in 2017, and has most recently launched The Wiseman line of bourbon and rye. The Wiseman Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys are blended by Master Blender John Rhea. So what are they like?
Tasting Notes – Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Rye
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Rye spices, rye bread, cherry candy, dark plums & caramel; moderate alcohol Taste: Caramel, honey and rye spices up front, with rye bread appearing later on Finish: The flavors continue into the finish. However, capsaicin spice with a bit of cinnamon soon replace them. The finish is quite long, with a moderate burn.
The Wiseman Rye is made from a mash bill using 95% rye. However, it has many bourbon characteristics making it a bit of a conundrum on the nose. It has notes of cherry candy, dark plums and caramel, but yet there is rye spice and rye bread in there as well. The taste is the same, with components of both bourbon and rye, however the longer I sip it, flavors such as rye bread become more noticeable.
A Very Enjoyable Rye
I am enjoying The Wiseman Rye from Kentucky Owl quite a bit. However, don’t let that 95% rye mash bill fool you. It’s a quite different rye from the ones from Indiana which are made with a similar mash bill. I’m not sure where The Wiseman Rye’s flavors all come from, but I am happy to have them! Give it a try and see for yourself! Cheers!
Thank you to Kentucky Owl for graciously providing the rye for this review!
I hope you have enjoyed our Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Rye Review!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
Blue Run Spirits recently released their second rye, Blue Run Emerald Rye. Golden Rye, which I have reviewed previously, was their first. In contrast to the Golden Rye, Emerald Rye was contract distilled by Blue Run Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key Distillery. In addition, Emerald Rye is bottled at barrel proof whereas Golden Rye was bottled at 95 proof. So how is the new Emerald Rye? Read our full review to find out!
Blue Run Emerald Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Batch: Winter Proof: 116.7 MSRP: ~$110 Review
Please enjoy our Blue Run Emerald Rye review!
Blue Run Emerald Rye Is A Blend Of Ryes
Blue Run Spirits recently released their second rye, Blue Run Emerald Rye. Golden Rye, which I have reviewed previously, was their first. In contrast to the Golden Rye, Emerald Rye was contract distilled by Blue Run Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key Distillery. In addition, Emerald Rye is bottled at barrel proof whereas Golden Rye was bottled at 95 proof. Interestingly, not all of the barrels used in Emerald Rye were aged on Castle & Key’s property; some were aged elsewhere in Frankfort and in Bardstown. Lastly, Blue Run used three different rye mash bills to make Emerald Rye.
According to their press release: “Emerald, a limited collection, was crafted from just 189 barrels and embraces the distinct, spicy characteristics of Rye Whiskey, yet with the approachability and depth of a fine Bourbon. Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon expertly blended Emerald to highlight a myriad of Blue Run’s favorite flavor characteristics.”
Tasting Notes
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Rye bread & rye spices, cedar; fruit, like apple and apricot; caramel and vanilla in the background, and even some light floral notes arrive later, once I am acclimated. Alcohol is fairly mild for the proof Taste: The fruits continue; there’s a brown sugar almost syrupy sweetness, cedar, rye spices and developing spiciness; and, dare I say, anise? Finish: Both black pepper and capsaicin spice rapidly build and linger for a good long time. There’s a bit of barrel char, too. The fruit, sweetness and anise linger, with the anise hanging on by its finger tips til the end, and becoming more noticeable with every sip.
A Very Complex Rye
Blue Run Emerald Rye is quite complex, presumably due to the different mash bills, aging locations and, of course, the blending. The flavors change quite a bit the more time I spend with it. The nose starts with rye bread and rye spices, cedar and some fruit, such as apple and apricot. Later on, other flavors such as vanilla, caramel and even a floral note, possibly roses, become noticeable. The same occurs with the taste and finish. The complexity really comes out more and more with each sip, as I become acclimated to the initial flavors.
Conclusion
I am really enjoying this rye. It has a very pleasant complexity of flavors not usually found in ryes, making it quite unique. Like all Blue Run whiskeys since the original 13-14 year old bourbons, the price is on the high side for their age, so it becomes a personal choice what something is worth. Price aside, this would definitely be one that I would enjoy having on my shelf. Have you tried Blue Run Emerald Rye? What did you think? Cheers!
Blue Run Spirits provided this sample for our review. Thank you! As per our policy, this in no way influenced my review. (photo credit: Blue Run Spirits)
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil, the creators of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast, founded Pursuit Spirits in 2018. They initially produced select sourced single barrels under the Pursuit Series label, but now focus on their own brand of blended whiskeys, Pursuit United. They released their first whiskey, a bourbon, back in early 2021, followed by their rye, later that year. The Pursuit United Rye that I am reviewing today is their second rye release, designated by Batch 7CC on the label. So how is it? Check out our full review to find out!
Cecil + Coleman Pursuit United Blended Straight Rye Whiskeys 108 Proof Batch 7CC (July 2022) Blended & Bottled by Pursuit Spirits Non-Age Stated; All component ryes are said to be older than 4 years 108 Proof MSRP: $65 Review
Please enjoy our Pursuit United Rye Review!
The Second Pursuit United Rye from Pursuit Spirits
Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil, the creators of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast, founded Pursuit Spirits in 2018. They initially produced select sourced single barrels under the Pursuit Series label, but now focus on their own brand of blended whiskeys, Pursuit United. They released their first whiskey, a bourbon, back in early 2021, followed by their rye, later that year. The Pursuit United Rye that I am reviewing today is their second rye release, released in August 2022 and designated by Batch 7CC on the label.
A Blend Of Three Different Rye Whiskeys
Pursuit United Rye is unique. It is a blend of three different rye whiskeys, each made from a different mashbill. In addition, the ryes are distilled by two different distilleries in two different states. Two of the ryes come from Sagamore Spirit in Maryland, whereas the third rye comes from Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky.
So What Are The Mash Bills?
The mash bills of the three component ryes are: Bardstown Bourbon Company: 95% rye, 5% malted barley Sagamore: 95% rye, 5% malted barley Sagamore: 52% rye, 43% corn, 5% malted barley
Tasting Notes – Pursuit United Rye
Let’s taste it:
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Brown sugar sweetness, clove, spearmint, cedar, light cinnamon & rye bread; Dark stone fruits like black cherries; a hint of raisin; moderate alcohol Taste: Rye spices, oak, caramel & brown sugar sweetness; dark cherry and grape juice arrive later on Finish: Oak, char and black pepper spice build in the finish, with the spice becoming quite noticeable; some sweetness and fruit linger, although there is a drier woodiness that develops later on. Long finish with a moderate burn.
Pursuit United Rye Review
Tasting Notes – Summary
Pursuit United Rye is quite the unique rye. While there are certainly some of the characteristic rye flavors up front, such as clove, cedar and some mint, the darker sweeter fruits that make appearances throughout and the caramel and brown sugar sweetness are a bit unexpected. Nonetheless, they are quite welcome and really provide Pursuit United Rye with an interesting depth and complexity. The noticeable spice in the finish provides the perfect contrast to the sweetness and fruit. Overall, this is a very enjoyable pour.
This rye is meant to be a bourbon lover’s rye, and I think it has achieved that goal. Have you tried the latest batch of Pursuit United Rye? What did you think? Cheers!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
Nose: Citrus, like orange peel; fresh apples; rye spices, cooling spearmint & sweet brown sugar; cinnamon & cedar in the background; relatively mild alcohol
If any of these are true, then check out 
