Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Rye Whiskey Blend 001 Review

Frank Dobbin -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Undisclosed, but “sourced from New York” by way of Canada and blended and bottled by Uncle Nearest.
  • MASH BILL: 100% Rye
  • AGE: At least 4 years
  • YEAR: 2022
  • PROOF: 119.7 (59.8% ABV)
  • MSRP: $150

FRANK'S REVIEW OF UNCLE NEAREST UNCUT/UNFILTERED RYE WHISKEY


SHARE WITH: Anyone who appreciates premium rye akin to Whistlepig or Lock Stock & Barrel offerings.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yes. This is a downright delicious rye that really impresses next to comparably aged whiskey. Though many of those competitors hit the shelf at a lower price point, this is a bottle that stands a cut above in terms of quality.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. By taking the rich flavors in Uncle Nearest Straight Rye and amplifying them for this Uncut/Unfiltered expression the brand hits the sweet spot between complexity and approachability without alienating either crowd..

OVERALL: While you would be forgiven for being a bit lost in tracking the journey this whiskey took from its origins in Canada to being aged in New York before “resting” in Tennessee inside used Uncle Nearest barrels, you’ll surely find a bounty of flavor in each bottle. For blend number 001 Victoria Eady Butler has crafted a well-rounded rye resplendent with both classic notes (orange peel, singed mint, bold baking spice) and sumptuous surprises (with chili pepper and bubbling butterscotch chief among them).

Though this distillery-exclusive bottle commands a premium asking price, it delivers a high quality experience that will reward fans of Canadian rye with a boldness that readily complements the more polished sweet notes common in the category. In Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered you’ll experience a pleasing ride with three different whiskey regions coming together in a masterful blend that deserves to be on the radar of rye enthusiasts everywhere.

As the debut rye expression from Uncle Nearest this Uncut/Unfiltered blend was released with lofty expectations as the brand has quickly become one of the most awarded in the world of American whiskey. Thankfully, those expectations have been met and then some with this initial rye offering. Now it will be intriguing to see how Victoria Eady Butler continues to refine the brand’s lineup with a single barrel rye and a single barrel black label whiskey still to come later in 2022. Based on all of the above, it would be wise to keep an eye out for the full portfolio.

UNCLE NEAREST UNCUT/UNFILTERED RYE TASTING NOTES

The funny thing about Tennessee is for all our stunning farms and incredible farmers, we can’t grow rye worth a damn. A grain so easily grown in other states gets choked up in our soil.

So, we went out to find the best straight rye and brought it back home to rest in used Uncle Nearest barrels. WHERE DID WE FINALLY FIND IT? NEW YORK, BABY!

Born in the north, then raised for at least four years in the big city before moving to God’s Country for some well-deserved rest. You get the best of both worlds… the classic rye spice and character paired with the incredible Uncle Nearest smoothness that has made our whiskey the most-awarded of 2019, 2020 and 2021.