Rye Whiskey Archives – Page 7 of 9

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey

Posted on 23-October-202131-December-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey Review:

reviewed and enjoyed on 19-October-2021

PIKESVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY REVIEW:

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey (Pikesville) is a departure for those who are familiar with bourbon or other whiskies. There is a lesson to be learned here — be careful of bias. Let your pours stand for what they are. The aromas and palate for Pikesville are savory and spicy more than fruity and sweet, and the pour finishes hot and dark. This is rye through and through, and while maybe not for everyone, I will reach for this rye again when I want to tantalize my senses.

PIKESVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY VITAL STATS:

Category: Straight Rye Whiskey
Region: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Company: Heaven Hill
Distillery: Bernheim Distillery
Mashbill: 51% Rye, 39% Corn, 10% Malted Barley
Barrel Char: #3
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: 6 Year
ABV: 55% (110 Proof)
Released: Ongoing
Price: $49.95 (in Idaho, Fall 2021)

_{“First produced in Maryland in the 1890s, Pikesville Rye, along with the rest of the once-booming Maryland Rye industry, was shuttered by Prohibition … Now produced in Kentucky from extra-aged barrels stored in prime warehouse locations, Heaven Hill Distillery keeps this historic Maryland mark alive.”}
^{— Heaven Hill Distillery}

Click Heaven Hill Distillery to learn more.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

The whiskey was aerated and mixed by alternately pouring about four ounces into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the whiskey neat for this review.

Check out her review for this rye here!

PIKESVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY NOSE:

When first brought to my nose, Pikesville offers a quick burn, but with waves of unusual aromas I’ve not experienced in a whiskey before. I sense mulled wine, beer-like fermented corn, and acidic tart apple cider vinegar which seems bolstered by the brininess of pickling spices mixed with rye. Other than these confusing oddities, there are not many typical whiskey aromas. But as they are simple and fresh, I let the oddness pass as simple syrup and faint caramel along with dry oak planks help balance the nose.

PIKESVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY PALATE:

As I sip Pikesville, I am treated to dusty grain and faint but fresh tart apple cider vinegar, warm dark stone fruit and the sensation of a citrusy fruit leather. As on the nose, it is briny with notes of ginger, pepper, and rye. It is savory more than sweet and I am so glad the pickling spices I sensed on the nose do not pass to the palate. There is just enough faint woody caramel to help with the balance as bitter nuts and dry but light old oak char and leather fade away.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Pikesville is simple, and does not have many distinctive aromas or flavors. The first sip becomes creamy the longer the whiskey is held but it does build to a soft manageable tickle. Inside the Glencairn, long fat legs transport the wash of each sip back to the mahogany colored pool leaving behind an incredibly long-lasting droplet filled and oily crown.

PIKESVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY FINISH:

Pikesville Rye has a long finish. It is hot in the throat but totally manageable as dusty grain dances with briny ginger and pepper. This is an earthy, rye filled finish with dry oak, barrel char, and leather which improves as the pour goes down. And as the last dram is downed, soft white oak drifts from the empty Glencairn.

MY PIKESVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY RATING: 88/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
I am on the lookout for a replacement bottle and intend to have a backup in my bunker.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Pikesville Straight Rye Review

Posted on 23-October-202109-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Pikesville Straight Rye Review

Original review written October 19, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A savory whiskey, Pikesville still manages to be incredibly fresh. With a fun mouth feel and good blend, it’s hard to not enjoy it thoroughly. 89/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey
– Age: 6 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Rye=51%; Corn=39%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 55% (110 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho (2021)

Visit heavenhilldistillery.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed this spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this rye here!

SETTING:

I imagine sitting in a little café at breakfast time, watching the world go by, and having a pour of Pikesville Rye beside me. The sun is shining brightly, and the streets are cluttered with people as they go about their daily lives, and I’m met with freshness and sunshine in a glass. It’s gonna be a good day.

Photo by Tony Lee on Unsplash

NOSE:

Rye, anise, and light brown sugar come from the glass on the first inhale and in very strong doses of each. With it comes a bright floral element and a mix of maple and simple syrup, while still being mild in its sweetness. They pair with something I can only call a breakfast pastry – in other words, not heavy, but still slightly savory, even in its sweetness. There’s also a very gentle raspberry and citrus zest to go with the floral, but it really is quite mild. I find a piney freshness also as opposed to a dominant oak of any kind. And for being 110 proof, it certainly doesn’t want to bite, and it doesn’t even tingle much either on the nose. Overall, I’d say this nose is quite fresh and bright, and – to me – very intriguing.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Fun. It’s got a raspy texture that just pops at the back of the palate, likely thanks to the rye.
– Balance: Solid. I’m not finding anything sticking out awkwardly. While I think there is a savory essence to this, it’s backed by enough grain to soften and freshen it.
– Visual: Mahogany, the crown on this pour just does not stop. It’s thick, lingering, and it follows absolutely everywhere the rye goes. The droplets that dip from the crown even linger to actually give it a strong regal look.

– Taste: The freshness of rye is immediately apparent, especially after the sip, and it just blooms. And strangely enough, I am really sensing the barley. I taste it in the way I might in a light beer like a pilsner – a little hoppy, but still flavorful. I find some anise from the nose, which I am less excited about, as I’m not a big anise fan. However, it’s not overpowering or something that I can’t get past. The breakfast pastry is still there, but this pastry has a bit of a tang to it, like a sourdough bread prepared for a cheese spread.

The only thing I am struggling to find is oak. It’s a light, barely-there wood essence. However, the flavors that are here, work. I don’t find myself desperately needing oak, or any wood truthfully, to accompany them.

The alcohol is almost timid in the glass. I can find it, but it is not portraying itself as a main character, and it seems comfortable with that. A Kentucky chew makes the alcohol feel like raspy needles on the tongue. It makes me crave parmesan even more. It’s an incredibly fun Kentucky chew that has a strong alcohol character that is easy to fall for.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium-long. The tickle at the back of my throat lingers on and on, even if the flavor isn’t particularly long-lasting.
– Between Sips: The rye grain is strongest between sips along with some of that sourdough tanginess that makes me excited for another sip.

– No More: This stays consistent throughout the glass. I ended up scrounging around for some parmesan cheese towards the end (don’t worry – the review was already written and wasn’t influenced at all), and let me just say… YES. Absolutely delicious, and well-worth the pour. It’s amazing.

The empty Glencairn is just as fresh as the rest of the glass with that bit of oakiness that might’ve been missing from the rest of the pour. Nevertheless, this is a great empty glass to pair with a great rye. Can’t wait for my next pour.

WORTH THE PRICE?

This is a fresh change of pace for us, and I, personally, think it’s a very welcome one. I’m enjoying a lot of aspects about this rye, and altogether, I do think it is worth the $50 price tag. It’s interesting and fresh, and it makes me crave cheese. I’m not sure what could possibly be wrong about that!

PIKESVILLE STRAIGHT RYE REVIEW RATING: 89/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

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Rittenhouse Straight Rye Review

Posted on 26-April-202109-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Rittenhouse Straight Rye Review

Original review written April 20, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

It’s not a bad rye, and it is a solid one to finish the evening with, or a drink to pour when I’m not looking for anything complex. It’s one I’ll keep around. 85/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey; Bottled-in-Bond
– Age: 4 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Rye=51%; Corn=35%; Malted Barley=14%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $24.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at Rittenhouse Rye.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this rye here!

SETTING:

While plain, I could easily see sipping this in the middle of spring, with nearby bushes and trees budding and just on the verge of blooming. The air is sweet and perhaps distracts from the simplicity that Rittenhouse Straight Rye offers. Bright colors of the blooms slowly come into vision as the sun gradually rises and shines down on the waiting nature.

Photo by Marita Mones on Unsplash

NOSE:

This has a soft earthy, woodiness upon the first inhales, but not in the traditional oak that you would think. Rather, it seems more like freshly broken twigs or even branches that are still green. There is a light apple here also, with a dash of cinnamon to bring out the sweetness of the fruit. I find a soft nuttiness as well, perhaps pecans, but it is quite subtle. There isn’t much in the way of other sweeteners, save maybe a light vanilla or simple syrup. Beyond the twiggy wood that I found on the first draws, there is a pine underneath it and all of the other flavors too. It’s not a heady pine, but it is like a dried out Christmas tree in your home.

The alcohol is a tickle in the nose, but it isn’t strong enough to be offensive, and you have to be breathing in fairly deep in order to catch it at all.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Oily. But oily in a way that leaves me wanting more “oomf” or power that I’m not sure this rye can deliver.
– Balance: I don’t think anything sticks out awkwardly, so I’ll say it’s a decent balance.
– Visual: Honey in color, this has many fast-dropping legs that disappear quickly, but a crown lingers a bit longer with some clinging droplets.

– Taste: Soft grains are immediately apparent, but I wouldn’t necessarily say that it was rye. Nevertheless, the rye is here in the capacity of a rye bread, or maybe it’s that rye is interwoven in another bread with other grains too. There’s a fresh fruit that lightens up the sip right at the back of the palate. I get a pinch of the cinnamon, and maybe the faintest hint of white pepper for a spice. Other than that, I’d say that this is quite mildly flavored. If I’m looking for something to make this hardier or richer, and there just is not much there for that, but if I’m looking for simple and solid, this could be it.

The alcohol is certainly also mild and palatable, which is a bonus for something that is 100 proof. A Kentucky chew makes the rye bread pop a bit more, along with a light stone fruit, but it’s very subdued and disappears again quickly before I can identify it. And I find that a bitterness also comes about when I do this that confuses the palate slightly.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. It leaves behind some warmth and mild aftertaste but not much else.
– Between Sips: There’s a little bitterness that lingers between sips. While it isn’t the worst pause between sips I’ve experienced with whiskey, it’s far from my favorite.

– No More: The bitterness I’ve mentioned before grows a bit as I get further into the glass. There is a sweet element that wants to come onto the scene also, but it is simply impossible around the bitterness and already present wood. Note that the wood – both twig, and straight up pine – have grown in intensity also. I will say that despite this growth in bitterness, I am finding myself growing fond of it, all the same.

The empty Glencairn has sweet oak with a tinge of fruit and plenty of warmth. I truly wish the pour itself had been closer to this; this would have been fantastic.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Not a bad price, and if I’m wanting something at the end of the night to not pack much of a punch, while not being bourbon, this would be it. I do quite like it, and the taste only continues to grow on me. At the inexpensive price, this is one I will look to keeping on hand.

RITTENHOUSE STRAIGHT RYE REVIEW RATING: 85/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 85/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.

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