Category: Rye Whiskey Page 2 of 3

Arbiki Highland Rye Whisky

On 02/17/2020

Last year November, Iain Stirling was in the country to showcase the Arbiki Highland Rye single grain Scotch whisky. Iain Stirling is a founder and director of Arbiki Distillery. I had some other responsibilities, so I did not get to meet him.

However, this year, I have the opportunity to taste the new Arbiki Highland Rye whisky second release.

Arbikie Distillery is a ‘field to bottle’ distillery, situated on the east coast of Scotland in the Angus region. This Highland distillery overlooks Lunan Bay. The Stirling family has been farming at Arbikie since the 1920s.

John, Iain and David Stirling grew up exploring the hills of the Estate. It was over a few drinks in New York that the 3 envisioned the idea of building a distillery on the family property.

In 2013 the Stirling brothers began the 18-month long build of their small distillery in an existing cattle shed. They utilised the skills of the local farm’s mechanics and blacksmiths to assemble the stills. They grow, harvest and distil from scratch, maturing and bottling on the Arbikie farm.

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The first spirit to run off the still was potato vodka, using Maris Pipers and King Edward potatoes grown on the farm. The Arbikie gin followed in August 2015. What makes this distillery unique is that they distil all their spirits in the same copper pot stills.

The focus is on operating sustainably, combining human intellect, science and art. The master distiller for Arbiki Distillery is Kirsty Black. Rye whisky is traditionally associated with America; however, records show that rye whisky was produced in Scotland during the 19th century. Arbiki Distillery hopes to awaken a Scottish rye whisky revival.

Arbiki Highland Rye Whisky Review

This Highland Rye is the second rye whisky released in Scotland in over 100 years, and the first 4 yo. The spirit was distilled put down in 2015 and aged in charred American oak barrels before being finished in Armagnac barrels. (From Cask 3, 5, 13 and 14)

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Rich gold

NOSE: Freshly squeezed orange juice, hints of orange peel, wet woody notes. Very distinctive and unique. Something reminds me of the smell of cherry Coke.

PALATE: Dry oak spices and pepper mixed with oranges, apricot sweetness. Full of flavour with only faint hints of the cherries I picked up earlier. Some alcohol heat and a few sharp notes. Water smooths out the alcohol heat and makes it very drinkable.

FINISH: Spicy with fruity sweet hints. Medium length and warming.

RATING: VERY GOOD

What a different and unique taste. This whisky is not like anything I have tried before. Slightly less spicy when compared to American rye whiskey, and it has a different spicy component. More orange and clove spices with hints of caraway. The Arbiki Highland Rye is warming and easy drinking. An interesting and different drinking experience.

I would love to see what happens to this whisky after another few years in barrels. It is a great beginning to a rye revolution that will add a new layer of flavour to the Scottish whisky landscape.

Since launching the first release of Arbikie Highland Rye, Arbikie won the ‘Best Newcomer Distillery’ at the inaugural Scottish Whisky Awards.

The first release of Highland Rye was completely sold out and only a limited number of second release bottles are available globally.

Sample disclosure: I received this sample from Arbiki Distillery. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.

Also Read: Bulleit Rye whiskey

Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/03/2020

In Rye Whiskey

Rye whiskey is exploding in South Africa. Even regular bottle shops have started to carry some rye whiskey. It is wonderful to see ow the category is growing. This spicy style whiskey adds an exciting new taste dimension compared to Scottish whisky or bourbon.

I try to taste as many rye releases as I can to expand my taste buds. I found this bottle of Bulleit Straight 95% American Rye whiskey locally and just had to try it.The first Bulleit bourbon was produced by Augustus Bulleit.

He wanted to create a bourbon with a unique flavour profile and experimented with varying recipes until he found a whiskey that he was happy with. He created his bourbon, and it was available until he died in 1860.

Years later, his great-great-grandson, Tom Bulleit dreamt of continuing his ancestor’s distilling tradition, and in 1987, he created a small batch bourbon, bearing the family name. The bottles are modelled on old fashioned medicine bottles, with distinctive raised lettering.

Also Read: Sazerac Rye

Seagram acquired Bulleit Bourbon in 1997, and the facilities were relocated to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Today, Diageo owns the Bulleit brand. In March 2017, Diageo opened a new Bulleit distillery just east of Shelbyville in Shelby County, Kentucky.

Bulleit Rye American Frontier whiskey was introduced during March 2011. It is made with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley and produced in small batches.

Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 45%

COLOUR: Light golden caramel

NOSE: Sweet and fresh. Cherries and vanilla with hints of grain and toasted oak. Subtle spices with hints of cinnamon and cloves.

PALATE: Not as spicy as the Sazerac whiskey. More caramel sweetness followed by fresh fruit before the spicy notes hits. Overripe cherries, dry roasted peanuts and crunchy grain. Then follows the rye spice mixed with vanilla, cinnamon and hints of pepper and cloves. Delicious. I finished my first glass without water and had to pour a second glass to see the impact of water. Water brings more orange notes forward.

FINISH: A spicy rye finish with cinnamon, allspice and vanilla. Medium length. Warming.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a delicious rye whiskey! Probably my favourite rye so far. Spiciness to let you know you are drinking rye, but enough sweetness and balance to make it easy drinking and inviting. I love it. Now to go and play with this rye whiskey and make some cocktails. I think this Bulleit Rye will work really well in an Old Fashioned.

I found an article on the history of rye whiskey in America and more on the Bulleit Bourbon HERE. Other rye releases that I have tasted include a Scottish Rye whisky, the Arbiki Highland Rye release. A different spice profile, but interesting nevertheless.

I have done a side by side comparison between the Bulleit Rye and the Woodford Reserve Rye to see what the differences are.

Also Read: Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/02/2019

In Rye Whiskey

I have not had a rye whisky to review for such a long time. It is high time for something a bit more spicy and different, so today I look at the Sazerac Straight Rye whiskey. This whiskey is named after the Sazerac coffee house in New Orleans, which is deemed the birthplace of the famous Sazerac cocktail.

JP Sizer’s Deluxe Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 09/11/2017

In Rye Whiskey

Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary on the 1st of July. I was fortunate to be in Canada during these celebrations, and it was wonderful to raise a glass (or 2) in celebration. One of the glasses we raised was filled with JP Wiser’s Deluxe blended Canadian whisky. I spent quite a bit of time rummaging through Canadian liquor stores during our trip.

It was fascinating to see all the flavoured whiskies available. Flavoured whisky is not readily available in S.A. The occasional Jack Daniels Honey, but nothing as exotic as what I found in Canada.

There is a broad selection of flavoured vodka on the South African market, but very little flavoured whisky. The other noticeable thing was the different bottle sizes. You can find from a 375 ml to a 1.5L bottle readily available in the liquor stores.

The JP Wiser range had quite a few flavoured releases. There was a JP Wiser Apple, Vanilla and even a Hopped flavoured relese (at the end of the process the blended whisky is dry-hopped in the same fashion as India Pale Ale beers).

Another thing I had to get used to was the 40% ABV. I had to be very careful when adding water. We have to a bit more of a bite in S.A. with our 43% ABV, and it was remarkable the difference the little extra made. ABV on the flavoured whisky was typically around 35%.

On to the JP Wiser Deluxe blended Canadian whisky; in 1857, John Philip Wiser set out at a steady pace to build a distilling company. He began a long tradition of Canadian whisky making.

Produced from cereal grains, the dominant, base ingredient is typically corn, with rye, wheat and barley being used as blending agents to create a distinctive flavour. JP Wiser’s is Canada’s oldest continuously produced Canadian whisky. JP Wiser is produced in Windsor Ontario by Hiram Walker & Son’s which is owned by Pernod Picard.

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JP Wiser’s Deluxe Whisky Review

The JP Wiser Deluxe Rye whisky is Wiser’s signature blend and has no age statement.

COUNTRY: Cananda

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Golden Amber

NOSE: Vanilla, toffee sweetness, hints of fruit and lemon. Not the most complex nose and the Rye spices that I was expecting did not make an appearance.

PALATE: Now the spices come through. Toasted oak and grain, toffee sweetness, hints of vanilla and fruit with heaps of rye spices. After the soft nose, I was not expecting all the rye spices, and it was a bit overwhelming. Water softens the rye notes and releases a bit more sweetness. Not the most complex of drams and certainly not as lovely as some of the other rye’s that I have tried. A few blunt edges.

FINISH: Medium length ending in notes of spice and lemon rind.

RATING: VERY GOOD

After trying the Crown Royal Rye and the Rittenhouse Rye, I was excited to try another Rye release. However, the balance in this JP Wiser’s Deluxe version was just not there. It is not a bad whisky and definitely in the affordable class, especially as we were shopping in ZAR.

It will make a great mix for cocktails, and after this tasting, my bottle is empty. Definitely not too bad. I used this JP Wiser’s Deluxe whisky in some mulled wine that I made and it worked well. I also tried the Forty Creek Barrel Select on my trip to Canada and captured the tasting notes HERE.

Also Read: Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 10/10/2016

In Rye Whiskey

My first experience with rye whisky was earlier in the year when I tasted the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye. Rye based whisky is relatively unknown in SA. I liked the spiciness of rye and looked around for some more.

I saw a few more releases, such as the Pappy van Winkle Family Reserve 13 yo at R 19 000 a bottle. Hmmm; slightly out of my budget. Fortunately for me, I found this bottle of Rittenhouse Straight Rye whiskey at WhiskyBrother for a lot less.

Before Prohibition, rye whiskey distilleries dotted the Pennsylvania landscape. Rye was the most popular grain American farmers’ distilled regularly. Rye grain is easy to grow and durable. Surplus grain was fermented and distilled, which was a cheaper option than transporting it to other areas.

Also Read: Michter’s Single Barrel Rye

Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or “Monongahela” rye whiskies, Rittenhouse is a well-known rye enjoying a comeback throughout the USA, as today’s American whisky consumer re-discovers classic whiskey styles.

Likewise, the brand is beloved by mixologists for its robust style and enjoys a renaissance as cocktails regain popularity. Prohibition destroyed the rye whiskey industry. After Prohibition, Americans adjusted their palates towards the softer Canadian whiskies and sweeter bourbons.

Rye whiskey was relegated to the back room. However, slowly over the years, rye crept back. Micro distilleries across Pennsylvania and New York are releasing new rye whiskies regularly. Rye has increasingly been in demand since the 2016 Whisky Bible rated the Crown Royal Northern Harvest rye as their top whisky. A rye whiskey reawakening.

The Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye was a polarizing whisky. Some people loved it; some people could not understand the hype. For me, however, it opened a new taste avenue.

I find rye whiskies slightly spicier than the traditional bourbons, and the new flavour nuances have interesting possibilities with food pairings. Heaven Hill Distilleries produce the Rittenhouse rye. The Rittenhouse rye is aged for 4 years.

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Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Spicy and rich. Notes of nutmeg, eucalyptus and vanilla. Faint hints of fresh-cut grass, lemon blossom and liquorice.

PALATE: Freshly baked lemon sugar biscuits and spices. Adding water releases more vanilla notes.

FINISH: Medium length that ends in spicy notes.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Probably not the best rye on the market, but a decent mouthful. My brother, not usually a whisky drinker, joined me for the tasting. He finished his glass, without water, even before I could finish writing down my tasting notes.

So it can’t be too bad. It might be that I rate this rye whisky highly because of my limited experience with rye whiskey. But I will look out for more rye releases so that I can do a better comparison. John liked the spiciness of Rittenhouse Rye, and I liked the sweeter notes.

I paired this Rittenhouse Rye with some Cadbury Milk chocolates. I have also done a side by side comparison between the Rittenhouse Rye and the Sazerac Rye whiskey to see how much they differ. You can read all about it HERE.

I have also tasted a Scottish Rye whisky, the Arbiki Highland Rye release. A different spice profile, but interesting.

Also Read: Pikesville Rye Whiskey