2011 Tastings - Rye Suggestions & Offers

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Hi just putting it out there in relation to American Rye Whiskey tasting later this year...

So far we can obtain or have the following:

Pikesville Rye
Van Winkle Family Reserve 13yo
(Ri)1

Liam can you add details of what you have on the rye front....

Suggestions or offers please

[DavidH]

Old Potrero! (that's a suggestion; I don't have a bottle.)

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I asked for a bit of help on this across in Straight Bourbon and they mentioned the following from what I though we could get our hands on.

Rittenhouse (100 proof)
Wild Turkey Rye
Sazarac Straight Rye
High West Rendezvous Rye
Jim Beam Rye
Van Winkle 13yo Family Reserve Rye (Not to be missed as it has much older whiskies in it also)

Most of these are available in the Whisky Exchange and are reasonably priced

Whistle Pig 10yo (Possibly) A 100% RYE mash bill and eventhough made in Canada it is bottled in the US.


JohnM may have a few ideas

[jcskinner]

+1 on the Old Potrero wishlist. I'd love to see one of the High West ryes too.
Sadly, I've no ryes to offer, though.

[JohnM]

The Sazarac Straight Rye, as Adrian mentioned, is really good and less expensive than the aged versions. Wild Turkey is lovely too. Jim Beam is rated very highly too, although I can't remember having tasted it.

Then there's... Oliver Overholt 4 yr old and Rittenhouse Straight Rye (less than 20 euro).

The rest tend to be very expensive.

The Old Potrero is really good. Not in the same category as the others, as it's a single malt rye, but I'm sure that doesn't matter.

[JohnM]

Actually, according to law, maybe the Old Potrero is in the same category as the other ryes...

[IainB]

Actually, according to law, maybe the Old Potrero is in the same category as the other ryes...

I don't think so - I think a straight rye has an upper limit on the amount of rye.

[JohnM]

So I was right one of the times, then... That's good enough for me.

[jcskinner]

Some ryes spoken of highly in the latest Malt Advocate: Whistle Pig, High West, Sazerac.

I think Whistle Pig is a 100% rye Canadian whisky, which is interesting because Canucks call all their whisky rye, even if it doesn't have any rye in it at all (though there's usually some.)

[Willie JJ]

The Sazarac Straight Rye, as Adrian mentioned, is really good and less expensive than the aged versions. Wild Turkey is lovely too. Jim Beam is rated very highly too, although I can't remember having tasted it.

The Old Potrero is really good.

I'd just like to say I totally agree with this. These would make great additions to a rye tasting.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I'd just like to say I totally agree with this. These would make great additions to a rye tasting.

Thanks for your opinion Willie much appreciated ...

[rathbeggan]

Everyone,

I think the only rye bottle I have at the moment is regular Van Winkle, not the 13 year old version. I'll do another check.

I have at one stage or other had bottles of Old Overholt, Jim Beam Rye and Wild Turkey Rye, all gone. It's a while since I've tried any of them. Very much liked Jim Beam Rye, liked the Wild Turkey, wasn't mad about Old Overholt.

It looks like we can source at least six bottles of rye, which is great.

If we're not able to get six bottles of rye, I had an idea for filling out the tasting, partly inspired by Gary's "side by side" tastings at the President's selection. It might be interesting to do a "triple pot still" comparison - compare Woodford Reserve, which is triple pot distilled (the only US whiskey which is, as far as I know) with Redbreast or Green Spot. If we have enough rye bottles we won't need to do that but we could always try it at another tasting (and compare it to Auchentoshan as well, maybe?).

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Hi Liam,

Can you check the label of the Van Winkle that you have and pass on the details.

I picked up a solitary bottle of the 13yo Family Reserve in a shop as I reckoned if I didn't get it now it would disappear.

Cheers Leo

[rathbeggan]

Leo,

Turns out my Van Winkle rye is also a Family Reserve 13 year old, sorry about that. I've about three quarters of a 750 ml bottle left.

I cross posted the "triple pot still" idea on the "suggestions for 2011" thread.

Liam S

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Sure save me a sample for tasting, it is supposed to be an excellent rye