Whiskey Acres Rye Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Whiskey Acres Distilling Company
• MASH BILL: 75% Rye  |  25% Corn
• AGE: At least 15 months, aged in 15-gallon barrels with a #3 char
• YEAR: 2017
• PROOF: 85 (42.5% ABV)
• MSRP: $39.99 to $50.00 (wide range in market, shop carefully)
• BUY ONLINE: Ezras.com |  Binny’s

BRENT'S NOTES

NOSE: Baking Spices  |  Vanilla  |  Herbal Mint

TASTE: Vanilla  |  Mint  |  Orange Peel

FINISH: Medium finish with a bit of rye spice but not too hot. Lots of herbal/minty flavors linger on the palate with a hint of burnt orange peel.

WORTH THE PRICE: This is a pretty solid rye. It’s a unique craft product because it is truly a farm to table product or Seed to Spirit as the brand calls it. The price puts it in the same neighborhood as a lot of other ryes on the market, and if you’re a big rye fan, I think it provides a unique alternative that stands up to a lot of other stuff that’s out there.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: For $45-58 a bottle I’d say Bar for sure but if it doesn’t break your monthly bourbon and rye budget, go pick one up. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Be sure to give it a try if you can find it in your area. Unfortunately, they are a smaller family run operation, and their distribution area is limited to Illinois and the Chicagoland area. But Ezra’s does ship to some states and even offers a $10 discount if you purchase three bottles or more if you use the code “whiskeyacres” at checkout.

OVERALL: Even though this is a younger product, it’s a solid rye option. It stands up well on its own, and I would imagine that it would go great in a cocktail. The mint adds a unique layer to it, and I’m looking forward to trying it in a Mint Julep or Kentucky Mule. Whiskey Acres has a great story and what they are doing is incredibly unique in the industry by growing, harvesting, mashing, distilling, and aging all on their family farm in Dekalb, IL. They are open for tours from April through November, so if you’re passing through the area, it could be a cool place to stop and check out. I’m always willing to try new things, and I’d love to revisit their brand once they can get a few more years on some of their product.

BRAND NOTES

From Seed to Spirit

What does it take to make the finest whiskey in the world? Start with the finest grains grown on the best soils the earth has to offer. Add water naturally filtered by the limestone aquifer found deep under those same soils.

Then complete the task by handcrafting a distilled spirit using the same hands of the 5th generation farmers who grew that grain. They know the land, their ingredients, and what it means to pay attention to detail. Blend together using equipment and know-how forged in the rolling hills of Kentucky. Add a little patience.

Distilling year-round and open to the public from March-November, we are an Estate Distillery like none other in the United States.

In Chicago’s own backyard.

“It’s very rare to have rye grown in IL – it’s not a good agronomic fit. So we reached out to some farmer friends from northern MN to source a Canadian rye varietal that is shorter in plant height (allows us to grow it here without it falling over). This variety is also known for it’s softer vanilla notes rather than hard spice that most ryes have. We used corn as a secondary ingredient to make for a creamier mouth feel.”

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.