Hannah’s Bulleit Straight Rye Review
Original review written October 26, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
It’s good, and I imagine it’d be a good rye for mixing purposes. As I drink my whiskeys neat more often than not, this doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. 79/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Shelby County, Kentucky, USA*
– Distiller: Diageo’s standalone distilling facility for Bulleit*
– Classification: American Rye Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Rye=95%; Malted Barley=5%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 45% (90 proof)
– Price: $29.95 USD in Idaho (2021)
*Distillery and Region: Bulleit is not completely transparent and does not disclose this information. Until recently, various internet sources – including multiple reviewers – reported Bulleit Rye was distilled by MGP Ingredients, Inc. at their Lawrenceburg, Indiana Distillery.
Find more information about this rye at bulleit.com.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed this spirit neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this rye here!
SETTING:
I imagine sitting on the edge of a cliff in the mountains with Bulleit Rye. Everything is light, aerated and free, but with a hint of ground all at once. You’re comfortably aware of the ground but are entirely content to ignore it too. The two -setting and rye – would blend into each other absolutely seamlessly.
Photo by Kevin Chen on Unsplash
NOSE:
Rye mixed with anise is the first thing to come from the glass. The anise is deep, as are the other savory, fresh herbs like mint and rosemary. There is also a bit of a licorice element that pairs with citrus zest that seems to be a blend of lemon and grapefruit. Add in a dash of cinnamon, and I’ve about summed up the nose. I can’t find any alcohol whatsoever here on the nose, even on deep inhales. In other words, this smells okay – nothing fantastic, but it certainly doesn’t smell bad.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Dry. My salivary glands try to make up for it and the slight raspy-ness, but it’s still just plainly dry. I’m not saying that as a bad thing; it’s just how it is.
– Balance: Fair. I don’t think it stands out particularly strong on either good or bad. It’s fair.
– Visual: Honey in color, this leaves behind an almost perfect inverted crown with the droplets clinging close to the ring. When the droplets give way to legs, they fall quickly and in coagulated sheets.
– Taste: As this is a rye, obviously one of the first things to notice is the freshness. However, there is also a darker essence to this, seeming perhaps slightly… plant-based? Though yes, there is a minor floral component, this plant quality seems more akin to the stem of a cherry were I to just sit and chew on it. And while I may think the stem is more potent, I do think there is some actual cherry here too. I get some dusty grain for a plant essence as well, and not just rye, but something almost grass-like.
Any spice from the nose is now gone, but I can now at last find some oak. It’s soft and gentle – wood-chips soaked in water for some time, so much so that I feel as though I could chew on them. The alcohol is still nonexistent, and even on a Kentucky chew, it’s gentle. The cherries liven up a bit more, but now I find a twinge of bitterness just at the back of the palate. It’s slightly nutty, like walnuts.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Short. No burn or warmth at all, and only some aftertaste, which isn’t awful.
– Between Sips: I get some cherry lingering between sips, along with more of the plant elements and distinct rye. Were it accompanied by warmth, I suspect this left-over flavor would be a bit better.
– No More: I find that I lose a bit of the fruit throughout the glass, but it’s still fine-tasting. Maybe just a bit more boring, but still not awful.
The empty Glencairn is just… empty. There is faint oak, but really not much else.
WORTH THE PRICE?
While only $30, and not necessarily a bad value, I do think there are other things at this price that I would sooner buy. For example, I think Rittenhouse Rye, at both a cheaper price (as of April 2021), and a higher proof, is something more likely to be found in my bunker than Bulleit Rye. (And I’m not even particularly inclined to keep Rittenhouse around either.) Bulleit is alright, but I’m not in the business of buying “alright” whiskey.
BULLEIT STRAIGHT RYE REVIEW RATING: 79/100
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