Elora and Cream of Kentucky Rye
Original review written June 21, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This rye does not have a lot of sweetness, but earthy elements like bread, herbs, plants, and soil dominate the dram in an intriguing manner.
VITALS:
CATEGORY: Bottled-in-Bond Rye
REGION: Middleton, KY
DISTILLERY: Distilled, aged and bottled at Kentucky Artisan Distillery
DISTILLER: Jim Rutledge, former Master Distiller at Four Roses
MASH BILL: 100% Ryman Rye
BARREL CHAR: unpublished
BARREL ENTRY PROOF: unpublished
AGE: 4 years old (minimum)
ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 16195
PRICE: $80.45 USD in Idaho
Learn more at J.W. Rutledge Distillery.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed this rye in my living room along with my sister, Hannah, and my father, Brian, while
listening to folk country music.
Check out Hannah’s review for this rye here!
Check out Brian’s review of this rye here!
MUSIC SELECTION:
There is a pastoral element to this rye; earthiness dominates the glass and it is impossible to
ignore. A hint of darkness is also present, but it isn’t necessarily morally bad. It exists like a
shade of grey that lets the light shine. “House on a Hill” depicts a dystopian reality where the
only light and goodness can be found in the innocence that children.
Video found on YouTube.com under The Pretty Reckless Channel from Going to Hell (2014)
The second movement of Dvořák’s From the New World Symphony, strongly linked to the spiritual folk song, “Goin’ Home,” brings a sense of hope for a brighter future and for seeing lost loved ones again.
Video found on YouTube.com. London Philharmonic Orchestra; March 13, 2019 (video published); David Perry, Conductor; The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music, album
NOSE:
Alcoholic heat strikes the nose at first before being quickly dominated by rye, black, and pretzel
bread, flour, cooked noodles, oats, malt, sesame seeds, and other assorted grains. There is not a
lot of sweetness here except for small hints of raisins, brown sugar, golden delicious apples,
butterscotch candies, rich vanilla bean, fig, and artificial grape flavoring. The dram also carries a
number of herbal and nutty elements such as pumpkin fruit, green vegetables like cabbage and
asparagus, salt-roasted sunflower seeds, pistachios, cashews, and potting soil. Savory flavors like
black pepper, butter, and seasoned spaghetti squash, are also present.
PALATE:
Feel: The drink is not abnormally hot. It freshens the mouth and almost cleanses it. A familiar
alcoholic burn is present, but is not overwhelming.
Balance: All of the flavors of bread and nuttiness blend very well, and it is easy for the
drinker to distinguish flavors.
Visual: The color leans towards mahogany, but one could make the argument that the color is
terracotta pot; long legs stain the glass like the windows of a church and a very defined crown is
visible.
Just like in the nose, grainy and earthy flavors swiftly dominate the palate. Rye and whole wheat
bread is easily noticeable along with oats, alfalfa hay, sesame seeds, blended peanuts and
sunflower seeds, petrichor, and bibliosmia.
There are also savory elements such as cooked ranch-style and black beans, maple bacon, salted butter, butter-seasoned eggs, baked potato, spicy spaghetti sauce including meat flavors. Again, sweetness is not really a noticeable element. If one were to try to perceive any of these tastes in this category, they might detect a nutty pie, like butter pecan, boxed red wine, and raisins. One particular and uncommon taste is worth noting,
and it is one that resembles the scent of an old, musky piano. When snuffing this flavor out, I
was reminded of the times I would be playing the clarinet or piano in a small practice room at the
university I attended.
FINISH:
The finish has a medium length of time, only lasting for about five whole seconds at most. The
flavors explode in the palate before quickly declining into a gentle heat in the chest. Fruit leather,
rye bread, oats, and baked potatoes dominate the aftertaste while subtle hints of spaghetti sauce,
fresh tomatoes, banana bread, malt, and golden delicious apples can also be detected.
BUY AGAIN / WORTH THE PRICE:
The rye is an intriguing dram, but a price of $80 for this is an expensive offer, especially since it
lacks the sweetness factor that I enjoy in whiskey. Therefore, I would have to say that it is not
worth the price.
I personally would not get this again. However, if it were offered at a gathering where there were
sides of bread and cheese, I would happily go for it.
ELORA AND CREAM OF KENTUCKY RYE RATING: 82 / 100
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