Top 10 Rye Whiskies In Australia
Curious about rye whiskey? As one of the fastest growing spirits categories of 2020, we've noticed many people aren't sure which rye to try. The good news, Australian whiskey drinkers looking to explore the world of rye whiskies have got plenty of choice. Join us as we explore 10 of the best rye whiskies available to buy in Australia.
If you are a seasoned rye whisk(e)y veteran or someone who is just curious what the fuss is about we think the selection below will have something suitable for everyone's palate and wallet (but maybe not at the same time :P).
This isn't in any specific order, think of this list as the top 10 rye whiskies we highly recommend everyone to try. Many are from multiple countries, including the recently awarded Archie Rose Distilling Co's Rye Malt Whisky (an Australian Rye) was named the World's Best Rye Whisky at the World Whisky Awards. And don't worry plenty of ryes from the United States - their spiritual birthplace of rye whiskey is very well represented in this list.
1. High West Rendezvous Rye
High West is still one of our favourite American distilleries and bottlers that seem to have not made it onto as many peoples radar here in Australia as it deserves. Based in Utah (which is interesting in and off itself for …reasons), High West have been toiling away since their founding in 2006, producing some eclectic but oft-times amazing concoctions using a mixture of sourced and in house produced spirits. No mean feat considering the last known legal still in Utah prior to High West coming online was last heard from around 1870.
High West Rendezvous Rye is their ‘flagship' whiskey and is made from a blend of straight rye whiskies aged from 4 to 7 years in virgin, charred, white American Oak barrels and bottled at 46% ABV. The ratios are not fully disclosed but there are 2 differing mash bills that have been made public. The first is a 95% rye, 5% barley malt spirit sourced from MGP. The second is an 80% rye, 20% malted rye spirit made by High West themselves.
Nose: Very cooking spice driven with definite notes of cinnamon stick, cloves, white pepper, and vanilla beans. Other notes we found were more sugary with peppermint toffee and golden syrup the stand outs.
Body: Generous but not unctuous - the spice and sweetness definitely adds 'weight' for what otherwise might have been a slightly too thin dram. Luckily its good :)
Length: Hangs around for a decent interval - once again seems at least in part driven by the warming spice character.
Burn: There is some here - but its more in the 'this is a whiskey' end of the spectrum rather than 'ouch what did I just sip' bit.
Complexity: Rye's tend to exhibit complexity (possibly perceived as we tend to look harder for it in whiskies we don't try often enough) but we didn't have to delve too deep to see there is plenty going on here. If we had to hazard a guess we would surmise it’s due to the sourcing of spirit from multiple distilleries and the use of multiple mash bills.
Expressiveness: 46% ABV and the flavours contained within seem to be in the ‘goldilocks zone’ for getting the point across without anything getting lost in the process.
Texture: This is the only slight (and it is very slight) let down for us. The texture could be a little more oily/thick for our liking, it tends to not stick on the sides of the mouth as much as we would hope based on the palate and nosing - either that or we are just being spoilt.
Balance: Due to their experience in blending whiskies from various sources of differing ages it’s no surprise they have nailed the balance here - the warmth, spice and sweetness work together so well.
Nose enjoyment: Slightly biased as I generally enjoy nosing rye's as they tend to be quite different from the bourbons and Scotch we normally hang out with.
Palate enjoyment: A great sipping whiskey and probably due to the label or the warmth of the whiskey but it evokes fond memories of eating and drinking with friends and family in the great outdoors for us.
Overall enjoyment: This is cracking rye and yes this is even after taking into consideration our soft spot for this distillery. Hope to see more availability and widespread distribution for this and its sibling whiskies in the future here in Australia.
Price: RRP $130
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/united-states/high-west/high-west-rendezvous-rye-750ml
2. Jack Daniel's Rye
Jack Daniel's is a brand that hardly needs an introduction in Australia. Famous for its Old No. 7 Black bottles of Tennessee whiskey, Jack Daniel's has been the gateway for many a whiskey drinker in Australia (and no doubt lots of other countries). What does need an introduction is Jack Daniel's Rye, which was first seen out and about in 2017, and began officially arriving on our shores in serious volume in 2019.
Jack Daniel's Rye is a sharply priced, readily available Tennessee rye whiske that makes for an excellent introduction to rye for those looking to try it out as well as a great everyday sipper or mixer for those already familiar with the style. With a 70% rye mash bill (i.e. 70% of the grain used to make the whiskey is rye) and having been charcoal mellowed (a fancy way of saying filtered) Jack Daniel's Rye should be on anyone’s 'try' list.
Nose: Not as pepper forward as we have to come to expect of ryes. White pepper is still evident but sits comfortably alongside, instead of on top of more typical bourbon nosing notes of toffee, melted butter/brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon. As a fan of banana notes in whiskey, I am also pleased to report the ripe banana / banana bread note I enjoy in my Jack Daniel’s is also present (and works great alongside the pepper/bourbon notes).
Palate: Has the slightly tingly/numbing pepper hit promised by the nose and almost invariably found in a good rye, a white pepper here. The rye grain is evident but not raw, more a dry, peppered oatmeal grain note with a good dose of banana muffin, toffee and cinnamon pancake.
Body: Pleasing amount of presence but super approachable and makes for a good whiskey to mull over and swirl around the palate.
Length: Not overly long but lingers long enough to prompt you to sip again (and again).
Burn: One of the smoothest ryes we've encountered (and as much as we think the term smooth is overused it is 100% applicable here). A tiny splash of heat from the rye spice, with the alcohol seemingly completely tamed and integrated so you can sip deeply without coughing up a lung.
Complexity: Not super complex - more like a greatest hits mix tape of all the popular hits from a rye whiskey, so while there isn’t a lot of variety, what is here is good.
Expressiveness: The alcohol is so well integrated it lets the spirit and the wood shine through perfectly. No numb palate or excessive wood (hehe) spoiling the party here.
Texture: Lighter in texture than anticipated but not to its detriment – it’s such an easy going rye the slightly dry but chewy texture makes perfect sense here.
Balance: Pretty much gave the conclusion here away already - the balance is bang on for what it is. A super easy going rye with a good amount of wood influence and an ABV that does what it needs to do without spoiling the fun.
Nose enjoyment: Slightly biased towards banana in whiskies thanks to Jack Daniel's (the 27 in particular) and a lot of earlier Starward - yes I know this is not everyone’s bag, but when added to the toffee and melted butter and brown sugar I'm thoroughly digging it.
Palate enjoyment: A 'breakfast' rye - makes me want pancakes to eat with it and I'm not mad about it.
Overall enjoyment: Happy to have this on the shelf as it makes a great easy going pour for when some of the other ryes just seem a little to hectic. Also makes for a cracking cocktail and is priced at the lower end of the spectrum making it a guilt free indulgence no matter how you enjoy it.
Price: RRP $75
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/united-states/jack-daniels/jack-daniels-rye
3. Michters 10 year Rye
One of the harder to ryes in our list to find, those who manage to score a bottle are graciously rewarded with this delicious nectar, well worth the time spent finding a bottle. Super floral and sweet upfront with a trademark cinnamon-spicy finish. Bottled at 92.8 proof or 46.4% ABV, you can really taste the barrel char having spent 10 years aging in fire-charred new American white oak barrels. Like you’re standing next to the fire they used to prep the barrels. Seriously hard to fault this rye. Really easy to drink, a must have on every American whiskey collector’s or drinker’s shelves.
Nose: Lots of florals, sweeter fruits with the right amount of vanilla enticing you to sip. Hints of honey.
Palate: Medium bodied, instant hit of toffee, rye spice, candied oranges, dried apricots, vanilla, and some citrus sneaking though.
Body: Once you get over the intial alcohol burn on the first sip, you quickly realise this is a sipper. Pour a decent glass, sit back and enjoy.
Length: Medium to long. This whiskey has spent a long time developing, give it some time to open up in the glass and be rewarded with a longer finish.
Burn: Decent punch up front of a typical rye heat and spice, especially on first sip but give time for your palate to adjust.
Complexity: Complex and balanced, it’s strange to describe but age has really helped develop a wonderful character to this rye.
Expressiveness: For sure, there is a hint of oak more flavours from the mashbill and the barrel char, definitely tells a tasty story
Texture: Chewy in a richness sense but not over the top, still easy drinking helped by the proof, which we think they nailed on this one.
Balance: Yes, yes and YES!
Nose enjoyment: Welcoming and pleasant. Encourages you for return sips.
Palate enjoyment: Great balance of sweet verses spice complexity.
Overall enjoyment: Really enjoying this rye. Each sip dives deeper into the spice, richness and the balance that comes from having a fair amount of corn and malted barley in the mashbill. Having spent a decade aging in the barrel has given this rye a character had to fault. Find one. Buy one. Drink it. You’ll thank us later.
Price: RRP $270
4. Millstone 100 Rye
Ever had a whisk(e)y that as soon as you mention it to someone else it triggers all sorts of warm, and fuzzy feelings? For us that’s the Millstone 100 Rye whisky.
Millstone 100 Rye is made in the Netherlands at the Zuidam Distillery. The 100 in the name is relevant as it represents the percentage of rye used (100% - 51% unmalted / 49% malted), the proof (100 American proof - 50% ABV to us here in Australia), the minimum age (100 months - ok this one is a bit silly but still informative), the amount of the spirit distilled in pot stills (yep you guessed it - all of it) and the amount of new American oak barrels used to age the whisky (100% - no prizes for guessing that one sorry).
Nose: Possibly our favourite in this roundup - Amazingly bright and citrus driven with delicate orange and lemon oils, crushed wheat biscuits (McVitties), and pressed clover flowers and violet infused sugar.
Palate: It’s always a good time with this one. The spices typical of ryes make their presence known straight away (pepper especially) before being quickly muscled aside and subsequently folded into the bright, juicy sweet and citrus-y mix promised by the nose with the addition of cinnamon. As it makes its way across the palate, the savoury grain elements come to the fore with an almost sourdough like finish.
Body: The ABV is only a few points higher than the mid 40’s that a lot of the American expressions hover around, but even so it has had a profound effect on the weight of the spirit. The 100% rye mash bill and exclusive use of pot stills probably hasn't hurt either 😉.
Length: The biggest surprise of this all-round surprising whisky is the length - by no means a record breaker but damnnnnnn this thing has legs. Amazing.
Burn: Struggling to do this part justice. There is a burn but it’s not so much on the front of the tongue but more a building heat/intensity in the back of the mouth down to your stomach which is not uncomfortable or unpleasant but may catch less experienced drinkers off guard. For us it’s like a warm hug that’s doing its best to thaw your soul...
Complexity: There are a lot of layers to this but they seem to be shades of the same primary ‘notes’ just replayed at different intensities and lengths, building a symphony but with only a handful of instruments. Yeah we forgive you if this makes no sense.
Expressiveness: We can only surmise, but the combination of age, wood, pot still and the ABV chosen seems to have paid off with a whisky that gets its point across in no uncertain terms without being loud, obnoxious or boastful.
Texture: Possibly the oiliest of the lot in this roundup - just so good. Hangs around in a most satisfactory manner.
Balance: Not being master blenders ourselves we are loathe to say perfect, but it might just be…
Nose enjoyment: Basically an enticement to drink, a lot and as soon as possible.
Palate enjoyment: The full package. So unique but so, so good. Has everything you want but didn't know you needed.
Overall enjoyment: This whisky shines in so many ways its always a 'how the hell did I forget how good this is and why has it been so long since I last had it' moment. Every. Damn. Time.
Price: RRP $180
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/the-netherlands/millstone/millstone-100-rye-dutch-rye-whisky
5. Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Rye
Rittenhouse Rye is produced at the Heaven Hill distillery. Heaven Hill is a very large, privately owned distillery which has flown pretty much under the radar here in Australia. They are the 7th largest supplier of Alcohol in the US and have the second largest inventory of Bourbon (in the world, but is anyone else playing this game? A bit like world series baseball!). Some of the brands you may be familiar with that they own other than Rittenhouse include Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Henry McKenna, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald and the Parkers Heritage Collection.
Named for a famous square in Philadelphia and produced in the tradition of classic Pennsylvania rye whiskies, Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Rye is sold at 50% ABV and is said to be made from a mash bill containing just 51% rye – which is slightly weird as older Pennsylvania ryes tended to a much high percentage of rye content.
Nose: An interesting mix of chocolate, rye bread, dark dried fruits (oddly enough) and some chilli flakes.
Palate: This is pretty much what I envisage when I think of a good, classic rye. Plenty of baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg with a hint of clove and ginger. Cocoa powder combines with a chewy almost treacle like dark rich sweetness. Definite notes of white peach and something tropical in the finish with the white pepper I've come to associate strongly with rye.
Body: Feels fairly lightweight in the mouth despite its fruit and spice combination, but in a not displeasing way.
Length: Shorter than I would have anticipated considering the bottling strength – perhaps due to the relatively small rye content?
Burn: Manages to sit quite comfortably at 50% ABV without being overly prickly or hot. Some heat is present but on the balance of things this is a fairly tame rye.
Complexity: Fruit, toffee and spices - pretty much all the characteristics you would hope for but still not as much depth as some others in this round up.
Expressiveness: The spice characteristics are muted slightly but this whiskey gets its point across well - particularly it must be noted in cocktails.
Texture: Fairly dry. Not a chewable or sticky dram by any stretch.
Balance: Feels a bit rawer than most of the other American rye expressions. This is not a negative so much as a bit of 'character', which is always welcome and adds some variety and muscularity to the overall product.
Nose enjoyment: Once again the nose on most ryes are intriguing to me and although this is not a standout, nor the most interesting or complex, I am content enough to nose in between sips.
Palate enjoyment: The extra hint of peaches and more delicate than expected spice make this a reasonably approachable rye - something that can't be said for some of the more aggressive rye whiskies out there.
Overall enjoyment: Good for the price, makes a great cocktail but can just as easily double up and be enjoyed neat or on ice.
Price: RRP $95
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/united-states/rittenhouse/rittenhouse-100-proof
6. Wild Turkey Master's Keep Cornerstone Rye
Have to be honest here, we drank the hell out of this bottle. First thing you notice is the super welcoming nose. The Wild Turkey Cornerstone Rye is the first rye Wild Turkey has released in their wildly successful Master’s Keep series. No age statement but we’ve been told it has spirit aged somewhere between 9 and 11 years in the mix. Noting this contains the oldest rye released by Wild Turkey to-date. Only 15,000 bottles produced globally, already scarce, once they vanish of shelves, I expect many people will be begging for more. Bottled at 54.5% ABV, another surprisingly easy to sip on rye. If you can score a bottle, definitely try and grab two. One of our favourite ryes of 2020.
Nose: Sweet, rustic aroma of green apple, honey, orange ring, lemon zest (gives a great tangy feeling) and oaky pine, leaving a beautiful impression of what’s to come. Trademark notes of leather and pepper also present. Almost like it’s begging you to dive in.
Palate: Immediate hits of toffee coated apples and freshly peeled apple skins. Burnt butterscotch makes an appearance mixed in with vanilla flavoured cinnamon scrolls. Oh and throw in some cherries and other dark fruits in too for good measure. Yum.
Body: Full and chewy, touch of oak and smoke from the barrel char present with a tangy from the orange and citrus
Length: Medium that builds due to the heat.
Burn: Satisfying amount of heat helps elevate the complexity of flavours, without overpowering them.
Complexity: Very complex, dark, heavy and chewy with layers of complex spice weaving through the oak and sweets.
Expressiveness: It doesn’t pretend to be something is isn’t. A full-bodied rye full of flavour.
Texture: Full and chewy, mostly thanks to the mash bill of 52% rye, 36% corn and 12% malted barley.
Balance: Perfectly balanced, round full body and heavy oily presence, just sings quality.
Nose enjoyment: Welcoming like an old friend.
Palate enjoyment: Really enjoyed this rye on the palate the most. The balance between dark fruits, apples and spice can only be compared to that feeling of attending an epic rock concert, with a elegant finish.
Overall enjoyment: A tasty rye. Comfortable to call that those who prefer bittersweet over full sweet will really enjoy this whiskey. A fantastic addition to the Wild Turkey family.
Price: RRP $250
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/united-states/wild-turkey/wild-turkey-masters-keep-cornerstone
7. Wild Turkey Rye
Wild Turkey seems to be one of the more well known rye whiskies available in Australia and indeed the Wild Turkey 101 Proof Rye has seen some pretty heavy rotation here at The Whisky List. Whether neat or in some very boozy cocktails The 101 rye is fantastic value for money. Today we are looking at the 101’s little sibling, which is bottled at 40.5%, is substantially cheaper (the cheapest in this roundup) and beginner friendly.
Nose: Has a delightful fresh nose, mostly notes of honey, vanilla, and cinnamon (reminds me of cheerio breakfast cereal). There are some slightly bittersweet fruit notes in here as well, like the peel and pith of a slightly spoiled orange and dried black cherries.
Palate: This rye is extremely easy drinking thanks in part to its lower ABV content. The flavours brought forth follow the nose quite closely with definite orange, cherry, cinnamon and honey featuring prominently, augmented by a slight raw grassiness and some menthol.
Body: Delicate but not so thin as to be detrimental - if you are looking for a big bodied rye this one is not for you, but, if you want something you can sip without thinking too much or something to broaden an uninitiated drinkers horizons you could do worse.
Length: The cinnamon and honey linger but not as long as we hoped. Warmth from the spices does build over time though.
Burn: Almost zero. Super friendly, invites deep and slow sips.
Complexity: You have to look a little harder as its comparatively easy going compared to others in this roundup but there is a bit going on here so its decently complex, all things (mainly the price) considered.
Expressiveness: Not going to win any awards in this category but an easy ‘fix’ is to drink a bit more than some of the others :D . Compounding the flavours with repeated sips highlights them nicely and makes up for a lot of the 'shortcomings'.
Texture: Drier thanks to the menthol and spices.
Balance: Actually, fairly well balanced. Avoids the trap a lot of lower proof whiskies seem to fall into of not having enough ethanol to do the wood and grain justice.
Nose enjoyment: Decent but not game changing. Not really designed for deep contemplation so it's fine.
Palate enjoyment: Does what it promises on the tin and makes a great introduction to what American style rye can be about.
Overall enjoyment: For around $45 dollars it’s hard to argue with the bang for buck on this one. Could certainly do worse, and for a lot more money!
Price: RRP $60
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/united-states/wild-turkey/wild-turkey-rye
8. Willett Family Estate 4-year Rye
Willett is a Kentucky based bottler and distiller with a past in whiskey stretching back as far as 1936. The distillery and the brand have been through various phases since then making and buying spirit at various times and introducing Old Bardstown, Johnny Drum, Noah's Mill and Rowan's Creek to name but a few.
Willett have developed somewhat of a cult following in recent years, due in part to the various releases of small batch bourbons and rye whiskies being distilled onsite since 2012 hitting a chord with drinkers of all levels of experience.
Today we are looking at a small batch Willett Family Estate - Straight Rye Whiskey which is 4 years old and bottled at 57.5%
Nose: Cinnamon, pickle brine and char smoke mixed with a fresh fruit salad. Melon, green apples and pears. Something floral as well but more springtime florals rather than a single note.
Palate: Robust with tastes of a chocolate chip, cereal grain candy bar. Spices for weeks.
Body: Spiced honey, citrus, mint giving this rye a welcoming wave of sweetness and freshness. Lots of different spices to pick up. Cloves, black pepper and cinnamon linger too.
Length: Long. Warm barrel spices add the its length.
Burn: Medium heat. Not over the top but you notice it for sure.
Complexity: Fun type of complex. Lots to unpack here.
Expressiveness: Lots of spices mentioned earlier just add to this rye.
Texture: Velvety in a good kind of way.
Balance: Warm barrel spices and tropical fruits layered over the top of a fantastic mouthfeel make for a fun balance here.
Nose enjoyment: Highlighting sweet meets spice in a fun way. Lots of flavours to unpack for a nose which we love.
Palate Enjoyment: Welcome to spice city. Flavour bomb on a very youthful spirit. At 115 proof, the alcohol has integrated well with all the flavours, making for a wonderfully balanced and fun drinking rye.
Overall enjoyment: This is a young rye. It doesn’t to pretend to be otherwise. Full of cheeky flavour mixed within, it will remind you of your youthful days full of fun, cheery moments. Great whiskey to share with mates and compare notes on.
Price: RRP $155
9. Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky
Archie Rose hardly need an introduction but it’s worth acknowledging the ethic, transparency and strength of conviction they have shown in establishing a distillery in the heart of Sydney (where fun is normally illegal) and whisky expressions which march to its own meticulously crafted drum beat.
While Archie Rose distil many spirits (and win awards for all of them with all most clockwork regularity) it’s fair to say that we here at The Whisky List have been awaiting their whiskies with bated breath. Thankfully, last year whisky from Archie Rose started being released to the public, and in short order have racked up a swathe of accolades and fans with their unique spirit and production techniques.
Today we are looking at one of their 'regular' expressions, The Rye Malt whisky (batch 3) which is created from a mash bill containing malted rye and malted barley, aged in virgin American oak casks.
Nose: An interesting juxtaposition of breakfast time, desert and cabinet makers shop floor. Rolled oats steeped in warm milk with dried paw paw and apicots, joined later by brown sugar and creme brulee. Fresh wood shavings and the slightest hint of pine resin.
Palate: Fruitier than the nose - a Sautee of stone fruits (peaches, apricots) with cracked creme brulee toffee notes, dark bread with salted fresh butter and a slightly drying oak/cedar spice.
Body: Athletic - carries zero unnecessary weight, just enough to deliver its message.
Length: Medium. The finish of dry wood and spice lingers with you long enough to keep you in good company but not long enough to make a pest of itself.
Burn: The 46% ABV chosen for bottling this whisky appears to have worked in its favour as it has just enough bite to remind you are drinking a whisky but without feeling like it wants to fight you.
Complexity: The mix of malted rye and malted barley works wonderfully with the virgin oak casks to put up something that stands the test of repeated sips, delivering a good variety and depth of flavours.
Expressiveness: Possibly our only reservation as semi-professional alcoholics would be the slightly muted volume of the rye characteristics we typically look for in this particular release - not having had much experience with malted rye mash bill whiskies this could be down to
a) our cask strength addled palates in general
b) malted rye presenting a more gentle profile in distilled spirits
c) we didn't look hard enough / get good(erer)?
d) all of the above?
Texture: Straddles both sides of the equation here in turns appearing chewy and dry in equal measure.
Balance: As a unique creature in its own right we can't judge the balance using past experience as much as we are used to. We can say that all of the elements work together and no one element sticks out awkwardly (wish we could say the same of ourselves) or masks other elements to their detriment.
Nose enjoyment: Fun to nose as while it lingers in the glass, the smells evolve and deepen to darker and sweeter notes.
Palate enjoyment: A great before or after dinner whisky - straddling the line between a dessert dram and an aperitif, for us depending on the mood and circumstance.
Overall enjoyment: Unlike any other whisky we've come across before and a damn tasty dram in it's own right - we can see it being potentially confusing for a hardened rye drinker but with an open mind and a bottle of this we are pretty sure it can win almost anyone over.
Price: RRP $120
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/australia/archie-rose/archie-rose-rye-malt
10. Belgrove Rye
Belgrove Distillery is famous in Australian whisky drinking circles and rightly so. This small distillery based in Kempton, Tasmania does everything differently, but in the best possible way. From the in house designed and built copper pot still which is fired by biodiesel (made from spent cooking oil), to the ryecorn grown, mashed, distilled and bottled on site (one of the few true Paddock to Bottle rye whisky operations in the world) to the spent grain feeding the sheep, whose waste has been on the odd occasion used to then smoke grain for distillation - yep. This gives you a basic insight but the full story is far more fascinating and if you make the sojourn to Tasmania to chase whisky, Belgrove and the man behind it all, Peter Bignell should be at the top of your 'to visit' list.
Today we are looking at a 'regular' expression (which is much easier to come by than some of the limited releases) of Paddock to Bottle Australian Rye Whisky, bottled at 45%.
Nose: Freshly picked violets, freshly churned butter, a bit of playdough (flour, water, salt), cinnamon and cloves. There’s a 'high' sweet fragrance like agave nectar.
Palate: Straight up farmyard, hay that’s been left in the rain a little too long, ground oats. There’s pepper here too with walnut oil, almonds, milo powder and a hint of burnt pine needles.
Body: Pretty stout with plenty of weight on the palate - no mistaking this for anything other than what it is - a big, bearhug of a rye whisky
Length: Length on this is great, stays with you well after the last sip and even tucks you into bed after!
Burn: Hard to define - makes its presence felt but it’s not a straight up ethanol heat - it’s more a prickly peppery sensation that builds over time. Great for cold mornings or evenings...we’re not judging.
Complexity: There is a lot going on in here - I don't think I've ever had a flat or boring Belgrove and this whisky does not let the side down, with a cornucopia of farmhouse and farmyard flavours at every turn.
Expressiveness: I know I am supposed to be talking about this whisky but I have to compare it to its 'bigger', higher proof siblings I've tried. At higher proofs, I feel that the 'volume' of the flavours can overwhelm my palate sometimes and hide some of the more subtle aromas and tastes contained within. At 45% I don't feel like I might be missing out on anything, as everything is on full display and can be savoured.
Texture: A good amount of top palate clinging oils in this one. Great stuff.
Balance: While not as well-rounded as some ryes, there’s nothing off putting or enjoyment spoiling in this that makes it a chore to sip. On the contrary the differing waves and intensity of flavours make this a fascinating dram, even if it’s not 'balanced' in a typical sense.
Nose enjoyment: I'm a bit wary of nosing Belgrove's thanks to the Bogan Burnout, but this is a unique and interesting dram that stimulates olfactory receptors that very few whiskies do. An adventure.
Palate enjoyment: Very different from the Dutch and American offerings we've talked about today - and even very distinct from its Australian contemporaries, but it is a well-made, delicious and unique drop.
Overall enjoyment: Always look forward to drinking a Belgrove as you know it’s going to be different and not muck about when it comes to showing what it’s got. For mine this expression is probably the easiest to come to grips with and is an excellent entry into the 'Willy Wonka' like journey Belgrove can take you on.
Price: RRP $150
Buy: https://thewhiskylist.com.au/whisky/australia/belgrove/belgrove-100-rye-500ml
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