Brother's Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey Review

Patrick "Pops" Garrett -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Bottled and distributed by Brother's Bond Distilling Company. The whiskey is sourced from MGP.
  • MASH BILL: A four-grain blended rye whiskey with a final mash bill of 77% Rye, 16% corn, and 7% wheat and barley.
  • AGE: Aged in new, deep-charred oak barrels for at least four years. 70 to 170 barrels per batch.
  • YEAR: 2023
  • PROOF: 95 Proof (47.5% ABV)
  • MSRP: $48.00
  • BUY ONLINE: Reserve Bar

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: This one is clearly for folks who enjoy rye whiskey. People on the fence need not bother with this one.

WORTH THE PRICE: Maybe? It's priced within an acceptable range for rye whiskey sourced from MGP but falls short of what my palate expects from a $48 rye whiskey.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I highly recommend trying this at a bar before purchasing an entire bottle. You're not going to dump it out, but you might wish you had invested the same amount in a different rye whiskey after tasting it. But then again, it might fit your palate better than mine.

OVERALL: A quick whiff of the nose, and there's no denying this is a rye whiskey reporting for duty. It has all the classic hallmarks of a high rye mash bill rye whiskey from MGP–candied fruit, bright rye spice, caramel and juicy fruit. The palate adds some herbal notes, brown sugar, and cinnamon with an abrupt finish that leaves a slight unexpected bitterness. The mouthfeel is also a bit thinner than I expected based on the whiskey's rich aroma.

I found the nose of this rye whiskey to be quite lovely. Based on that, I expected a much more robust and satisfying whiskey on the palate. Unfortunately, it never delivered what I was expecting. Ultimately, it was a bit thin on the palate, with an unexpected finish gone in the blink of an eye.

This is the third Brother's Bond whiskey I've reviewed (straight bourbon and cask strength bourbon), and each one has fallen short of my expectations despite all three being sourced from MGP, one of my favorite bulk whiskey providers. For me, the four-year age of these whiskeys is the major issue. My palate loves MGP whiskeys that are at least 6 years if not 8 years of age. MGP whiskey just tastes better to me when it has a few more years in the barrel. So, given time, I believe my palate will better receive these expressions.

However, the brand's pricing strategy is clearly designed to target their owner's celebrity fan base, who likely have little to no baseline for the price of the product compared to equal or better-tasting products in the market. As such, I doubt these expressions will ever receive a "Bottle" rating from me as I'm sure the price will go up dramatically if they were to be released with a 50 to 100% increase in age. Time will tell.

BRAND NOTES

A remarkable aromatic and flavorful American blended rye whiskey. This rye recipe combines Brother's Bond signature bourbon blended with a distinctive straight rye whiskey full of robust flavors with a full-bodied mouthfeel and extra-long finish.

Brother's Bond™, created by Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, known as "The Salvatore Brothers" from the famed TV series, "The Vampire Diaries." The true bonds of their friendship strengthened over drinking bourbon, both on and off-screen, for over a decade.

The brand name is a nod to their on-screen characters, their shared love for great bourbon, and a reflection of the sense of brotherhood they have formed over the years.

Aged a minimum of 4 years, at 95 proof with 77% rye content, Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye is a well-rounded, nostalgic and robust spirit.

Every sip leaves the palate full of bold, spicy aromas and flavors in perfect balance.

To all the rye enthusiasts and whiskey lovers, it's time to bond.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.