Pikesville Review Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

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Barrel entry proof: unpublished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.}

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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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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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