Pinhook 9-Year Vertical Rye Review: Aged Elegance Unveiled

Steve Coomes -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Produced by Pinhook. Distilled by Midwest Grain Products.
  • MASH BILL: 95% Rye | 5% Malted Barley
  • AGE: 9
  • YEAR: 2025
  • PROOF: 112.2 (55.6% ABV)
  • MSRP: $89.99
  • BUY ONLINE: Pinhook Bottle Shop

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Personally, I think all American whiskey drinkers would enjoy this, but there are those who just don't like rye.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yes. Well made, long-matured and beautifully blended whiskey is nearly always worth the price to me. The only time it isn't is when its ultra-premium/un-affordably priced. $90 is more than fair for this. That this is a Vertical Series makes me want to kick myself for not setting aside bottles from each year to open someday when these current barrels run out. I have this bad habit of drinking what I buy and not creating a long-term vision for certain products.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle, all day. But if you see it in a bar, don't pass it up.

OVERALL: After receiving the bottle, I had a brief text chat with Pinhook cofounder and master blender, Sean Josephs. He said, "I will go on the record as saying this is the best thing I have blended." Even if you don't know the Pinhook brand, trust me, that's saying a lot. Josephs added, "I had to blend it in a very different way because the fill levels are now too variable."

Here's why they're so variable. Nine years ago, Pinhook bought 450 barrels of this rye from MGPI and moved them to Castle & Key Distillery in Millville, Ky., for aging and bottling. And even in Castle & Key's oldest rickhouse, which sits near Glenn's Creek and all the cooling, moist air that rolls into it, you still have Kentucky's hot summers, which can exaggerate angel's share. So, if this blend was challenging, I can imagine it'll only get harder from here on. But that's Josephs' problem. My job is to taste the goodness he creates.

On the nose comes raisin bread, nutmeg, Cocoa Puffs cereal, a hum of mint and anise, dried green tea, dried dates, pipe tobacco and muddled blackberries. Leave it alone for a bit and mint and dill skip back to the front of the line again before disappearing quickly. After a few days and some room made by using it in Manhattan (it was fabulous), I revisited it and found the mint notes even stronger, which I really enjoy. Like a sun-warmed serpent, this whiskey continued uncoiling over the weekend that followed.

Tingling with spices like white pepper and coriander, it practically vibrates on the palate. Darkly toasted bread, French roast coffee, charred lemon, dried cherry, spearmint and some campfire mingle nicely alongside cocoa nibs. The finish is simple: long and warming.

With wild spearmint starting to grow here soon, this liquid is begging to become a julep, and I assure you, I'll oblige it!

BRAND NOTES

Blended from just 20 barrels, this year's release is the series' most limited to date.

NOSE: Candied licorice, oatmeal cookie, clove and and burnt toffee.

PALATE: Baked apricot, lychee, candied cinnamon and lavender honey.

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.