ryewhiskeytasting

Why We Love this Ported Pumpernickel Rye Whiskey

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November 19, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Last summer we purchased a bottle of Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye because Wayne is a huge fan of pumpernickel! Unfortunately, we had perhaps some unrealistic expectations of what that rye would taste like and we were somewhat disappointed. Not that is was bad, just that it didn’t align with expectations. Here is a LINK to that original tasting story.

We had several whiskey-loving friends who excitedly encouraged us to give Middle West Spirits another try. They specifically recommended exploring one of their double casks or a cask strength, which sounded thrilling! While attending Bourbon on the Banks in October, we eagerly sampled a few of their delightful offerings. That’s when we discovered and decided to purchase the amazing Double Cask Collection Ported Pumpernickel Rye Whiskey. This past weekend, we joyfully opened this bottle, excited to see what it had in store for us. We’re so glad we did!

Tasting Notes: Middle West Spirits Double Cask Collection Ported Pumpernickel Rye Whiskey

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

Mashbill – Dark Pumpernickel Rye, Non GMO, Open Pollinated Yellow Corn, 1-row Barley, Ohio Soft Red Winter Wheat (no percentages available)
Age – 5 years
Casks – Aged in Toasted and Charred American White Oak; finished in Tawny Port Casks
Proof – 99.5
Price Paid – $49.99 (plus tax)

Color – Dark amber. Nice legs.

Aroma – Port wine is the first aroma on the nose then followed closely by rye spices, vanilla, nutmeg, and brown sugar.

Tasted Neat – The Pumpernickel rye is evident as is the port wine. Flavors of vanilla, nutmeg, and stone fruit – date or fig – are also delightful.

Finish – There is a hint of chocolate and the nutmeg lingers, but there is much less port wine. Overall it has a medium to long finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – More spice notes are prominent and the cranberry truly enhanced the flavors of port wine, overall, making it a bit brighter. Unfortunately, the finish is very limited. That said, a red wine drinker would likely love this pairing.

Tasted with a pecan – Barrel notes are on the first taste. Nutmeg and now cinnamon as well is quite present. The pecan muted the port wine, vanilla, and stone fruit notes. Overall, finish is very limited.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The flavors of Port wine returned and with a very creamy mouth feel. There are notes of chocolate and a lot of cinnamon; however, no stone fruit. The finish with the pecan is short to medium.

Final Notes and Video

We really enjoyed this rye for its overall flavor and complexity. The color of this rye whiskey boasts a bold dark amber, showcasing its impressive viscosity. On the nose, the first aroma is port wine, seamlessly followed by intriguing rye spices, rich vanilla, nutmeg, and a touch of brown sugar. Tasting it neat, the distinct Pumpernickel rye takes center stage, harmonizing beautifully with the port wine. The delightful flavors of vanilla, nutmeg, and stone fruit—be it date or fig—are a true highlight. As for the finish, it offers a subtle hint of chocolate, with nutmeg lingering gracefully, while the port wine recedes, presenting an overall medium to long finish that truly impresses.

This tasting illustrates why we never judge a spirit based on a single taste, nor do we form opinions about a distillery from just one bottle. We are thrilled to have acquired this exceptional bottle and revisit Middle West Spirits. The Tawny Port wine cask adds a remarkable complementary finish to this pumpernickel rye, and this bottle is bursting with complexity. While it may not suit every rye whiskey enthusiast because of the Tawny Port wine finish, it was an undeniable favorite for us!

Embracing the Craft,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos and video by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

NOTE: The whiskey 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.

Straight Rye Whiskey

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.

August 2024 Leiper’s Fork & High N’ Wicked Tasting

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August 23, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

It is hard to believe that last week at this time Wayne and I were attending the Bourbon Women SIPosium in Louisville. One of the events of the weekend was an ongoing auction. Thrilled that, together, we won four auctions. This tasting from a basket that was won.

For more about the conference:
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 1
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 2
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 3

Selected for this Tasting

Peacock Leiper’s Fork Distillery Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey: 100% Local: Mashed, Fermented, Distilled, Aged and Bottled by Leiper’s Fork Distillery. It is made with local non-GMO Grains (Corn Grown on their Chief Distiller’s Farm), with the use of Toasted Barley Malt for Deeper Complexity. Also, it is Non-Chill Filtered for a Robust Profile and Mouthfeel, Pot Distilled for a Pre-Prohibition Style that is Full Bodied, has a Low Distillation Proof of 137* for Depth of Flavor, Low Barrel Entry Proof at 110* for a rounded Palette and is a Limited Release.

Single Barrel High N’ Wicked Rye Whiskey Women Peacock Preferred Pick: This 4-year-old rye is 114.4 proof and has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye. 5 Year Aged Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Distilled by New Riff Distilling. All Aging in seasoned medium toast new #4 char American white oak barrels. Non Chill Filtered. No additives.

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

Peacock Leiper’s Fork Distillery Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – 70% Corn, 15% Wheat & 15% Toasted Barley Malt
Age – 5 years
Proof – 109.6 (cask strength)
Other – Non-Chill Filtered for a Robust Profile and Mouthfeel, Pot Distilled for a Pre-Prohibition Style that is Full Bodied, has a Low Distillation Proof of 137* for Depth of Flavor, Low Barrel Entry Proof at 110* for a rounded Palette and is a Limited Release.
Specifics – Barrel 452; Bottle 149 of 201

Price Paid – $105 (average of total auction price of $210; MSRP $85)

Color – Medium Amber

Aroma – Very inviting with caramel, vanilla, toffee, a light butterscotch with a hint of smokiness and cherry.

Tasted Neat – Similar to the nose with note of butterscotch, caramel, baking spices, cinnamon, and a hint of dark cherry.

Finish – Pleasant and lasting with baking spices, cinnamon, and notes of wood that linger in a great way.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This muted most of the great flavors and eliminated the sweetness. The baking spices remained and there is an addition of black pepper on the finish.

Tasted with a pecan – Very nice as the butterscotch returned with the addition of a very nice dark chocolate. The finish has more wood and oak flavor that previously.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate really increased the spice notes but not in a bad way. It also added a creaminess that was pleasant.

High N’ Wicked Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel

Mashbill – 95% Rye, 5% Malted Rye
Age – 4 years
Proof – 114.4
Other – Bourbon Women Peacock Preferred Pick
Price Paid – $105 (average of total auction price of $210; MSRP $80)

Color – Amber hue

Aroma – Rye grass, brown sugar, pears, and mint tea.

Tasted Neat –  Rye grass spices and cinnamon greet you with the first sip. Great mouth feel and there is a sweetness of pears and then a hint of oak and a slight smokiness.

Finish – The finish is very similar in that it begins spicy then leads into the pear and a bit of caramel and finally with a slight coolness of mint coupled by a sweet but smoky oakiness. Great finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Surprising as it created a rather sour note and the spices and rye grass way back. Not unpleasant but not great either.

Tasted with a pecan – As sometimes happens, the pecan amplified the spices and brought a lot of black pepper forward. The finish was very short as well.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Not very flavorful with the dark chocolate. It was creamy and with black pepper on the finish.

Discussion and Final Notes

Leiper’s Fork is undeniably exceptional. The outstanding taste and aroma make it a bottle worth savoring. The enticing nose draws you in, making you want to savor every drop. It’s truly a remarkable single barrel and its fantastic qualities leave a lasting impression. Once again, Leiper’s Fork has left us thoroughly impressed.

We were not familiar with High n’ Wicked at first, but after trying it, we were impressed by its quality. This rye whiskey truly stands out for its solid and enjoyable character. In fact, its high rye mashbill adds a unique touch and flavor profile. With its rich and diverse flavors, it offers an elegant and enjoyable rye experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who appreciates a fine whiskey.

Happy to have won this auction so we could taste and enjoy each special bottle.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskey Requirements

Straight Bourbon Whiskey Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

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 whiskeys in this review were 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 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.