RyeRequirements

July 2024 Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Tasting

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July 28, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Wayne and I have seen a few people mention Middle West Spirits out of Columbus, Ohio and have heard very good things about what they are producing. The notion of a rye whiskey made with dark pumpernickel rye was very intriguing and when we had an opportunity to get a bottle online, we did.

Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel – Straight Rye Whiskey

Mashbill – Dark pumpernickel rye, Ohio soft red winter wheat, Yellow Corn, 2-row barley (specifics unknown)
Age – Minimum of 4 Years (per website)
Proof – 96
Price Paid – $54.99 (including tax)

Appearance – Amber with nice legs.

Aroma – Rye grass, honeysuckle, cinnamon, slight vanilla, and black licorice.

Tasted Neat –  Good mouthfeel. Rye grass, cardamom, light cinnamon, honey, white pepper, black licorice, ginger, a hint of dark fruit maybe fig. 

Finish – Medium finish with white pepper, cinnamon, rye spices, a hints of mint, oak, and black licorice.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Very fruity/fig with a lot of rye but less pepper.

Tasted with a pecan – Smokey and a lot of oak, a hint of leather and vanilla, and rye toast.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Dark chocolate with a hint of mint tea, and rye spices on the finish.

Discussion and Final Notes

This dark pumpernickel makes a very nice rye. However, we really had hoped to find more of the pumpernickel and its darkness to create a more distinct flavor profile. From that standpoint, it was somewhat disappointing, but a nice rye whiskey, nevertheless.

The Ohio soft red winter wheat component could be what is lightening the rye aspects of the pour. Hard to know for sure and this is just supposition. Also, we believe that additional time in the barrel could really enhance some of the “hint” notes we identified or perhaps a higher proof point, such as of 105 versus 96, might for the overall flavor profile. We would love to try this at cask strength! I noted on their website that both their cask strength and single barrel options have garnered awards.

This is a good bottle of rye, and we enjoyed our first experience with it. If it had been a blind tasting and we had no idea about the type of rye, that may have influenced our palates in a different way. We are happy that we have it. If we see future bottles that are somewhat older or cask strength, we will certainly want to see if it creates a different experience.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Straight Rye Whiskey Spirit Requirements

Rye Whiskey Basic Requirements – Rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less.  It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. Straight rye whiskey is a subcategory of rye whiskey that has been aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels and doesn’t contain any additives. If aged less than four years, the label must include an age statement. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Rye Whiskey.

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

July 2024 Wild Turkey Triumph Tasting

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July 25, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Wayne and I have been wanting to open this bottle and finally found a moment to relax and enjoy a pour. “Crafted with Conviction” by Eddie Russell, this year’s limited release of Master’s Keep – Triumph – is a passion project at Wild Turkey. This release is a nod to Eddie’s son, Bruce, Associate Blender at Wild Turkey and someone with a passion for rye. At 10-years old, this is the oldest age-stated rye ever released by Wild Turkey.

Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Triumph – Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Mashbill – 51% Rye, 37% Corn, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 10 Years
Proof – 104
Price Paid – $275 (plus tax and shipping)

Appearance – Copper. Legs are somewhat slow to form but very substantive when appear.

Aroma – Initially, it is light and not very distinct. As it opens and the nose acclimates, a lot begins to happen. There is a sweetness often reminiscent of bourbon with vanilla and crème brûlée. Then the rye components of mint, allspice, and cloves drift into the aroma. Finally, there is a hint of light fruits such as apples and pears with a touch of nutmeg. It is quite a journey just on the nose!

Tasted Neat –  Much like the nose, tasting requires several approaches to allow the flavor profile to touch each part of the mouth. It shifts and turns with each sip. The viscosity, as indicated by its legs, really provides a wonderful mouthfeel and the texture coats the palate very pleasantly. There is a lovely sweetness of honey, vanilla, and baked apples or pears. The flavors transition to deeper notes of dark chocolate, brown sugar, dates or possibly figs. The barrel notes come forward with oak and baking spices.

Finish – The finish is very long and lingering. Wood notes are dominate with oak and black pepper. However, there is also a light mint sensation to lighten up the otherwise darkness of the finish. It is certainly a journey!

Tasted with dried cranberry – At first sip, it became a spice bomb of red hot cinnamon. However, it calmed down to release a hint of citrus on the front and a brighter, but still a spicy finish.

Tasted with a pecan – This is interesting as it brought the wood notes very forward with dark chocolate and mint. Still a spicy finish but more along the line of ginger.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Wow, this became a chocolate desert drink, almost like Mexican Hot Chocolate with cinnamon.

Discussion and Final Notes

Perhaps it is the length of time in the barrel, the 37% corn, or the specific barrel selections, but this rye tends to waiver between a bourbon and a rye experience. As such, it would be a great pour for someone who hasn’t regularly enjoyed a rye whiskey.

That aside, this is an outstanding rye whiskey. With a 51% rye mashbill, the rye spices and rye grass notes don’t hit you upside they head; instead, they dance around and play with your nose and palate. As noted above, the journey it takes you on is an incredibly pleasant one and one that has a surprise around every turn.

Overall, I’m glad that we were able to get a bottle at MSRP directly from Wild Turkey. This is a wonderful addition to our Wild Turkey collection as well as our rye options.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Spirit Requirements

Rye Whiskey Basic Requirements – Rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less.  It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. Straight rye whiskey is a subcategory of rye whiskey that has been aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels and doesn’t contain any additives. If aged less than four years, the label must include an age statement. In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Whiskey, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Rye Whiskey.

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

Rye Whiskey

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02/11/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer


Rye whiskey originated in Europe and was first distilled in the US by local farmers in Pennsylvania. Farmers began using the local and easily accessible grains of corn to blend with the rye whiskey.

An interesting note on rye – President George Washington was a large producer of rye whiskey and distilled rye whiskey at his Mount Vernon estate.

Basic Requirements – Rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less.  It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. 

Straight rye whiskey is a subcategory of rye whiskey that has been aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels and doesn’t contain any additives. If aged less than four years, the label must include an age statement.

To add “Kentucky” to the label, it must be aged for at least one year in the state of Kentucky.

The taste profile of Rye Whiskey can be distinct; however, there are many nuances as well. Most think of Rye Whiskey as being spicy with flavors such as cinnamon, clove, and pepper coming forward. It can also have other notes such as sour, similar to rye bread, or even sweet such as caramel and vanilla. Dried fruits, nuttiness, and strong herbal flavors are often common. The important note here is that, like Bourbon Whiskey, Rye Whiskey can have a very wide range of flavor profiles. Therefore, if you don’t enjoy the first Rye Whiskey that you try, be sure to sample others before making a firm decision on the category.