High West Double Rye (Batch 12B29)

Christopher Hayn — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 20:09:37 +0000

The High West Double Rye is a blend of two straight rye whiskies: a “feisty” 2-year-old (95 % rye and 5% barley malt) and a “saddle smooth” 16-year-old (53% rye and 57% corn). The one important thing to note is that the Utah-based High West Distillery is a relatively young distillery (founded in 2007) which doesn’t release its own whiskey yet, at least to my knowledge. Instead, they buy already matured whiskey and blend them. So in the case of the Double Rye, the 2-year-old comes from the contract distillery MGP Ingredients (formerly Lawrenceburg Distillery Indiana), and while the origin of the 16-year-old is not official revealed, it comes from the Barton 1792 Distillery (Bardstown, KY), according to The Complete List of American Whiskey Distilleries & Brands.

Name:	High West Double Rye
Category:	Blended Rye Whiskey
Cask Number:	Batch 12B29
Strength:	46.0% vol.

Nose

Very “green” and “gin like” at first — eucalyptus, menthol and peppermint, herbs, pines and firs. Then vanilla and dried fruits (peaches and apricots) come through, together with freshly polished leather.

Taste

The taste resembles the aroma. A mixture of menthol, peppermint and eucalyptus candies, followed dark honey and white pepper alongside hints of citrus fruits.

Finish

Long and drying. Sweet honey, spicy oak and even more peppermint.

Overall

I think that blending a very young rye with a rather old rye is a great concept, but I’m not totally convinced by the result. Its just too “botanical” for me, but I guess some people might enjoy that.

Score: 80 / 100

Redemption Rye

Christopher Hayn — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:57:21 +0000

Alright, I already reviewed quite a few bourbons, 10 to be exact, two corn whiskeys and even two single malts, both from Texas and Oregon. The only thing that was missing so far was rye whiskey, but that will change today.

The Redemption Rye is here “to redeem” the dominant position rye whiskey once had among US whiskeys. And sure enough, the first ever produced whiskey on American soil (Pennsylvania) was made out of rye. After that, rye whiskey remained the epitome for US whiskey until Prohibition changed that. Not a single one of the mainly in Pennsylvania and Maryland located rye distilleries survived that period and thus rye whiskey was forgotten by many. Redemption Rye wants to change that.

Anyways, the label says that this rye was “distilled in the Indiana heartland”. There is not such a thing like a “Redemption Distillery” in Indiana, so it is most likely produced by MGP Ingredients. Sounds familiar? Yes, that is the same contract distillery which also produces the Big Ass Bourbon I reviewed two weeks ago. So what we have here is a young, mass produced rye whiskey. What sets it apart from other rye whiskeys is its mash bill which contains 95% rye.

Facts

Redemption Rye

Name:	Redemption Rye
Age:	less than four years old
Category:	Rye Whiskey
Cask Type:	American Oak
Batch No.:	133
Bottle No.:	320
Strength:	46.0% vol.

Nose

Lots of eucalyptus which is typical for most young rye whiskeys. Beneath all that eucalyptus are hints of cinnamon, herbs and citrus fruits.

Taste

Surprisingly smooth given the high rye content but a bit thin. Caramelized apples and cherries. Cinnamon. Gets a bit spicier with time but overall pretty sweet.

Finish

Medium and dry. Again only slightly spicy with a very distinctive grass note.

Overall

A young rye, easy to sip and not all that complex. It’s nice enough to drink straight but more suited for cocktails I think. There are just better rye whiskeys out there to drink straight in my opinion.

Score: 79 / 100

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High West Double Rye (Batch 12B29)

Redemption Rye