Blind Tasting: American Rye

American Rye plays a major role in the early history of american cocktails and distillation.  When Scottish and Irish settlers of the 1600's began their new lives in Colonies of Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Carolinas they faced a major dilemma.  A lack of whisky.  With the vast abundance of rye it only made sense to apply their skills of whisky making to this new crop.  Rye continued to be the whisky of choice for Americans until the enactment of the volstead act in 1919 which nearly abolished all traces of this tipple.  With in the last 5 years people have been beginning to realize that rye whisky is more then just a misnomer for canadian whisky.  A renaissance of rye is currently in full force.

Earlier this summer in July I attended an evening of imbibing on mezcal at Clive's Classic Lounge here in Victoria B.C.  With the recent success of that night a new monthly event has been spawned.  Clive's Tasting Panel is a ticket only event limited to 12-15 people.  The tasting panel has the opertunity to taste some of the best spirits available in their category.  For the first month of the tasting panel American Rye was the featured spirit.  The whiskies to sample were as followed

Sazerac 6 Year Old
Distilled at: Buffalo Trace
ABV: 45%
Price: $50
Rye Content: N/A


Sazerac 18 Year Old
Distilled at: Buffalo Trace
ABV: 45%
Price: $180
Rye Content: N/A


Rittenhouse 100 Proof
Distilled at: Heaven Hills
ABV: 50%
Price: $45
Rye Content: 51%


RI 1 Rye
Distilled at: Jim Beam
ABV: 46%
Price: $50
Rye Content: N/A


Old Overholt 4 Year Old Rye
Distilled at: A. Overholt & Co.
ABV: 40%
Price: N/A Not Available in B.C.
Rye Content: N/A


High West 16 Year Old
Distilled at: Former Seagrams Distillery, Lawrenceburg, IND
ABV: 46%
Price: N/A Not Available in B.C.
Rye Content: 80%


Hight West 21 Year Old
Distilled at: Former Seagrams Distillery, Lawrenceburg, IND
ABV: 46%
Price: N/A Not Available in B.C.
Rye Content: 53%

The whiskies were placed in no particular order and were rated on; appearance, aroma, taste and finish.  I have a few believes when rating a spirit.  To begin I don't rate on appearance.  We live in a fake world.  Fake hair, fake tans, fake tits and fake colored whisky.  While I am not aware of any laws regulating coloring for American Rye Whisky, but I do know is that I have tasted enough whisky colored with E150 to realize that not all spirits show their true colors.  So with that being said everyone gets a 5 out of 5 for appearance!

Another note. I like to take time to get to know my whisky.  I could have spend an hour per whisky, discovering all the small nuances and qualities that each whisky has to offer.  I can never give a final verdict on a whisky until I've gotten to know it.  Like a beautiful women you need to take her out on more then one date to decide if she's marriage material.  With that being said, I am open to giving any of these whiskies a second chance.

Tasted from bottom left to bottom right in clockwise order.

With only 2.5 - 3 hours of tasting I concluded with the following scores along with a few tasting notes. 

Old Overholt 4 Year Old Rye

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 3.5

Taste: 3

Finish: 2

Total: 13.5

While Old Overholt still has a obvious youth it is by no means a bad whisky. Cinnamon, clove, oak and campfire ashes make for a fairly pleasant nose.  The tastes follows the same path as the nose but unfortunately a weak finish results in a whisky better suited for mixing.

Rittenhouse 100 Proof

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 3

Taste: 4

Finish: 3

Total: 15

The aroma of pears, coffee and antique shops (yes...antique shops)  is initially over powered by the sharp smell of alcohol.  A small edition of water help open this whisky up to a salty, herbal dram with notes of licorice, oak and molasses.  Decent finish but fades within a short period of time.

High West 16 Year Old

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 4

Taste: 5

Finish: 4

Total: 18

I'd like to thank who ever decided to put these barrels of whisky away 16 years ago.  A massive blast of rye results in a wonderfully balance whisky containing carmel, raisins coconut, black pepper cinnamon along with countless other notes.  Strong spicy finish that lasts long after the glass is empty.

Sazerac 18 Year Old

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 4

Taste: 4

Finish: 5

Total: 18

There is a reason why Jim Murray has rated the Sazerac 18 year old in the 90 every year since this rye's inception.  A slightly sweet rye with notes of vanilla, raisins, carmel, mint, anise and juniper.  While it scored the same as the High West 16 year old I would have to claim the Sazerac 18 year old as my favorite whisky of the evening.

RI 1 Rye

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 5

Taste: 3.5

Finish: 5

Total: 17.5

They need to make candles that smell like this whisky!  Without a doubt the best nose of all the whiskies.  Lots of berries (strawberry, black, blue), cupcakes, vanilla in the nose.  Unfortunately the taste is what keeps Ri 1's from being an amazing whisky.  Light and fruity on the palate with a slight spice.  The finish more then makes up for the taste.  Long subtle fruits, christmas spice and a prominent banana after taste makes this a very memorable whisky.

Sazerac 6 Year Old

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 4

Taste: 3

Finish: 3

Total: 15

Sazerac 6 year old is what you imagine a rye should taste like.  Cinnamon, allspice, black peppers and other all a spicy whisky.  A subtle sweetness of chocolate and vanilla notes round this whisky off with a solid equilibrium.  While still a little rough around the edges, Sazerac 6 year old is a great whisky which makes an even better Manhattan.

Hight West 21 Year Old

Appearance: 5

Aroma: 2.5

Taste: 3

Finish: 3

Total: 13.5

I found my self disappointed with this whisky.  High West 21 year old lacks the back bone of most rye whiskies.  Flavors are more subtle, with more time I may be able to better appreciate this whisky but when stood next to Sazerac 18 year old and it's younger brother the 16 year old High West it falls short of noteworthy.   On the nose, tabacco, vanilla, oak.  Slight honey sweetness and spices on the palate.  Very week finish, diminishing rapidly.

The evening was alot of fun.  Not a serious tasting of pretentious whisky "Aficionados" displaying a pissing contest of the palate.  Just a regular group of people with a passion for spirits and a desire to broaden their knowledge.  Lastly I'd Like to thank Shawn Soole of Clive's Classic lounge for hosting, I look forward to future tastings... Especially the Tequila and Scotch tastings.