Best RYE Whiskey? Blind Taste Test 5 Bottles!

🥃 Blind Rye Whiskey Battle: Which Bottle is the Champion?

Join Wayne and Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey as they go WAY off the beaten path for an epic blind rye whiskey tasting! Can these bourbon lovers pick their favorite rye when they don’t know what’s in the glass? Five incredible bottles are in the running, each with a unique mash bill and proof point. The results are surprising, revealing a range of flavors from chocolate malt and coffee to floral notes and citrusy orange!

Watch as we blindly review and rank:

  • Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Rye (96 Proof): The double-barreled rye finished in Toasted Cherry Wood and Oak. 
  • Hard Truth Chocolate Malt Rye (109.6 Proof): A unique rye with a high percentage of Chocolate Malted Barley that tastes like an “after dinner coffee drink!” 
  • Neeley Family Distillery Sweet Thumped Rye (108.9 Proof): The only Single Barrel in the group, praised for its pure sweet mash profile. 
  • New Riff Balboa Rye Bottled in Bond (100 Proof): Featuring the heirloom Balboa Rye grain. 
  • Tom’s Town Straight Rye Bottled in Bond (100 Proof): A Bottled-in-Bond rye with distinct citrus notes, perfect for a cocktail! 

From high-rye Balboa to the unique chocolate malt, which bottle takes home the title of our personal favorite sipper? You won’t believe the final scores! Plus, we give a shoutout to the perfect bottle for making an amazing Manhattan!

Let us know in the comments: Have you tried any of these ryes? What are your favorite tasting notes in a rye whiskey?

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NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#RyeWhiskey #blindtasting #whiskeytasting #WhiskeyReview #HardTruthDistilling BardstownBourbonCo #NewRiff #NeelyFamilyDistillery #TomsTown #RyeLife #BourbonVsRye #CraftWhiskey #bottledinbond #RyeCocktails #ChocolateMaltRye 

Touring Castle & Key: Bourbon History Reborn at Old Taylor

Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes Episode 39 – Castle & Key Distillery

Get ready for an adventure down the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as we revisit a nice stop in Frankfort, Kentucky in April 2023.  In this episode, we’re taking you back to our very first visit to Castle & Key Distillery which was our 43rd distillery and our 35th stamp in our Kentucky Bourbon Trail Book! Plus – we finished the Craft Bluegrass Trail.

Join us as we relive every moment from our initial tour of the Castle & Key Distillery . But the excitement doesn’t stop there! We’ll then uncork a bottle of their Restoration Rye 2022 Single Barrel for an in-depth tasting. What hidden notes and unique flavors await us in this one-of-a-kind pour? 

Click play ▶️ now to join the adventure!

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What’s a bourbon trail journey without a good story? 🥃 Welcome to Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, where we dive into the unforgettable moments and hidden gems we discovered while exploring Kentucky’s iconic trail. Join us as we uncork the profound memories that have stayed with us long after the last pour. We’ll revisit the unexpected finds and the bottles that truly surprised us with their exceptional, intricate flavors. So, what stood out as the most memorable sip, and how have those experiences shaped our palates today? Get ready for a passionate retelling of the adventures, the connections, and the spirits that make the Bourbon Trail so much more than just a destination.

#KentuckyBourbonTrail #CastleAndKey #RestorationRye #bourbontrail #RyeWhiskey #SingleBarrel #WhiskeyReview #KentuckyWhiskey #CastleAndKeyDistillery #FrankfortKY #DistilleryTour #whiskeytasting 

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ABOUT THE BOTTLE REVIEWED

✴️ Restoration Rye 2022 Single Barrel

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Distillery: Castle & Key Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 63% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, 17% Yellow Corn
  • Age: 3
  • Proof: 115.8
  • Released: 2022
  • Other: Barrel 3027; Bottle 218
  • Purchased: 04/16/23 for $70 at Castle & Key Distillery

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NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

Kansas City Old Fashioned Like You’ve Never Seen!

Thirsty Thursday Cocktails – Episode 33: The “Midwesterner” Old Fashioned

Tired of the same ole Old Fashioned recipe? Get ready to elevate your cocktail game with The Midwesterner, a robust and earthy twist on a timeless classic. In this video, we’re crafting the perfect drink to highlight the incredible flavors of Tom’s Town Straight Rye Whiskey.

This isn’t your average whiskey cocktail. We’re leaning into the whiskey’s natural notes of toasted bread, dark chocolate, and spice by adding just two dashes of Aztec Chocolate Bitters. Paired with rich Demerara Syrup and classic Angostura, this recipe creates a bold, complex, and unbelievably smooth sipper.

Whether you’re a seasoned home bartender or just getting started, this rye whiskey Old Fashioned is a must-try. We’ll walk you through the simple steps to make this fantastic cocktail, from chilling your glass to the perfect stir.

Ready to mix up something new?

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Tom’s Town Straight Rye Whiskey
  • 1/2 oz Demerara Syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • 3 dashes Aztec Chocolate Bitters

If you love whiskey, cocktails, and supporting local distilleries, you won’t want to miss this. Click Play Now ➡️

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Cheers to better drinks! 🥂

#OldFashioned #RyeWhiskey #TomstownDistilling

Tom’s Town Review

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NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

Top Secret Whiskeys: A Blind Barrels Exclusive!

Blind Barrels XIV “The Prestige”

Get ready for a thrilling taste adventure 🚀 into the shadowy world of Blind Barrels! 🕵️‍♂️ In this episode, we’re plunging headfirst into the unknown, blind tasting 👀 and dissecting FOUR ENIGMATIC MYSTERY WHISKEYS! 🥃🥃🥃🥃 Can our palates decipher their secrets? 🤔

Join us as we become whiskey detectives 🔎, meticulously sniffing👃, swirling 🔄, and savoring 😋 each anonymous dram. We’ll delve deep into their intriguing flavor profiles and captivating aromas ✨, piecing together the clues 🧩 to uncover what makes each one truly unique.

The anticipation is building! ⏳ Will we correctly identify their origins? 🌍 Which hidden gem 💎 will steal our hearts (and our taste buds 👅)? And ultimately… which mysterious whiskey will rise above the rest and claim the coveted top spot 🏆 in our ranking?

Prepare for unexpected twists 😲, surprising revelations 🎉, and maybe even a few gasps of delight! 😮 You might just discover your next favorite pour lurking within these blind barrels. Hit play ▶️ now and join the mystery! 😉


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#blindtasting  #bourbontasting  #whiskeytasting 

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NOTE: We were not compensated by the spirit producers or Blind Barrels for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes Episode 8 – New Riff Distilling

New Riff Distillery: A Memorable 8th Stop on Our Bourbon Journey

In Episode 8 of Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, we recount our terrific first visit to New Riff Distillery in Newport, Kentucky. Join us as we vividly remember that day, Sunday, July 31, 2022, which marked our 8th stop on Our Bourbon Journey and our 7th Stamp on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We share our insights into the experience available at New Riff Distillery and how they have become a must-stop whenever in Northern Kentucky. To fully immerse ourselves in those cherished memories, we  taste from a bottles purchased on that very first visit, Balboa Rye, enabling us to relive the original experience and further enriching our journey with yet another highlight in Our Bourbon Journey.

In this series, Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes, we navigate the rich tapestry of our memorable experiences on the Bourbon Trail, a journey that has undeniably enriched our appreciation for this iconic American spirit. We tackle intriguing questions such as: What stands out as the most profound memory of that bourbon trail experience, one that has etched itself firmly in our minds? What exceptional and bourbon or whiskey did we discover during this journey, perhaps one that surprised us with its intricate and delightful flavor profiles? What lasting impressions do we have of that bourbon or whiskey today, as we reflect on its complexities and how they resonate with our evolving palates and preferences? Through this exploration, we passionately recount our adventures and celebrate the stories and connections we’ve forged along the way, highlighting the essence of the Bourbon Trail.

ABOUT THE BOTTLE: Balboa Rye Whiskey
Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery:New Distillery
Mashbill: 95% Balboa Rye, 5% Malted Barley 
Other: Bottled in Bond
Age: 4 Years
Proof: 100
Price Paid: $47.99