Brian’s Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey Review:
reviewed 19-April-2022
ROSSVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY REVIEW:
Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey (Rossville Rye) is one I intend to have shelved and ready for summer. For those who know me, I’m not one to enjoy my whiskey on the rocks – but may make an exception here. This one reminds me of desert … a whiskey to enjoy after a fine meal, surrounded by the laughter of friends and family, while sitting out on the porch as the evening turns to dusk.
ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY VITAL STATS:
Category: Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey
Region: Lawrenceburg, IN
Distillery: DSP-IN-15016/23, Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP’s Consumer Facing Brand)
Mash Bill: unpublished
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: A blend of 4, 5 and 6 year old rye whiskies
# of Barrels Used for this Batch: 159
ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 26942
Price: $36.95 (Idaho, Spring 2022)
PERFECTING THE CRAFT SINCE 1847
It began in 1847 with a bold, satisfying taste that would make Indiana the rye capital of the world. For nearly 200 years, Lawrenceburg’s master distillers and blenders have been perfecting the original handcrafted rye blends in one of America’s last Prohibition-era distilleries. Rossville Union is a return to the golden age of rye with an authentic taste that could only come from Whiskey City.
— Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey
Learn more at Rossville Distillery.
ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:
Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the rye neat for this review.
Check out her review for this rye here!
ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY NOSE:
Rossville Rye offers no alcohol to the nose. I sense dusty grain and fresh but subtle grape and white peach. The spices of powdered ginger, rye and allspice are faint as are the sweets of light vanilla, simple syrup and the aroma of sugar as it caramelizes. And while I do not get almond, I smell sweet white almond bark. The wood is faint here as well, and comes to my nose as light and dry oak. Yet this is earthy, like the freshness of a warm sidewalk with drops of new fallen rain. For me, this is quintessential rye.
ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY PALATE:
The taste of Rossville Rye follows the aroma but with more complexity. It gives the mouth and tongue a little bite of warmth. The whiskey is herbal with dusty grain, some citrus zest and the flavors of nearly flat lemon-lime soda with peach. But something else too … I had to dig hard into my past until memories Muscat Canalli wine came forward. There is a little warmth from powdered ginger and sweetness from simple syrup but this is desert in a glass. I want more. Like on the nose, the influence of wood is faint as light dry toasted oak enhances the fresh petricor as it fades into the next sip.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Rossville Rye is one of the most well balanced ryes I have had the pleasure to enjoy. It is at once smooth, smooth, simple and gentle, easy to hold, yet can give the mouth a tickling reminder of its 47 ABV. As I peer into the glass after each sip, a thick curtain of liquid falls to the russet colored pool, leaving behind many long lasting droplets.
ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY FINISH:
Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey offers a short to medium long warm finish. There are a few faint floral notes and citrus flavors which remind me of Muscat wine, but the ginger and rye spice sensed on the nose and palate are but a fleeting memory. There is a touch of dry toasted oak here, but this rye’s freshness wins me over. And when the last drops downed, the empty Glencairn smells of sweet, fresh cut oak.
MY RATING: 88/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
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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