Port Finish – World’s Best Rye Whiskey

Awarded as the World’s Best Rye Whiskey at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

We finished our Straight Rye Whiskies in the finest European and American Port barrels. The result is a perfect blend of plum, cherry, and baking spices that conclude with a full, dry finish. This exceptional whiskey should be savoured and shared.

Tasting Notes

PALATE: Bold black cherry jam with dark fruits. A dry finish complimented with a touch of smooth caramel.

PROOF: 101.2 (50.6% ABV)

AGE: 4 - 5 Years

The Featherbone Factory built by E.K. Warren in the 19th century to manufacture women's corsets sits on the banks of Lake Michigan just across the Indiana border in Three Oaks, Michigan. As the factory changed hands in the twentieth century, it became a production site for everything from buggy whips to pickles. Today, it's home to Journeyman Distillery and Bill Welter, Journeyman's master distiller. Welter, who was formerly a banker in Indiana, began his Journey when his family business was sold in 2006. He moved to Scotland, where he began to learn the art of craft distillation from Greg Ramsay (master distiller at Nant Distillery) and Bill Lark (master distiller at Lark Distillery). After returning to the United States, Welter spent time producing and resting whiskey using a prominent organic & kosher distiller's facility in Chicago before opening the doors of his own distillery in Three Oaks with the intention to offer grain-to-glass spirits from day one/drop one. Not a King Rye is a tribute to George Washington, who was not only the first US president, but also one of America's first distillers. After his victory over the British, he was celebrated by the masses as the first King of America. Washington famously stated that he was Not a King. In honor of the first president, this limited release whiskey is made available on Presidents Day each year. This incredible spirit earned 5-stars / Highest Recommendation from F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, and received a Gold medal at the 2018 Berlin International Spirits Competition.

Founded in 2008, WhistlePig is now the most awarded Rye Whiskey maker in the world. Their remote 500-acre hard-working farm in bucolic Shoreham, Vermont, is the perfect place to perfect their experiments with blending and finishing, ultimately leading to a portfolio of deeply complex Rye Whiskeys. In 2017 WhistlePig was awarded with the coveted Best In Show Whiskey title from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Their vision is to respect tradition and embrace progress. FarmStock Rye embodies their boundless journey toward this vision - protecting what makes Rye Whiskey great, then innovating to make it better. Their Triple Terroir Whiskeys begin with Rye grain from their Estate, distilled and proofed in their Barn with water from their well, and aged in custom Vermont White Oak barrels crafted from the trees surrounding the distillery. Each annual release of FarmStock Rye not only adds dimension to the Whiskey, but also a new chapter in the WhistlePig story. FarmStock Rye Crop 003 marks a historic step - the first ever majority WhistlePig Whiskey - at 52%. FarmStock Rye Crop 003 is the third release of WhistlePig's annual Triple Terrior Whiskey - created from our rye grain, distilled and proofed with water from the WhistlePig farm, and aged in their custom Vermont White Oak. This year's release is the first ever majority WhistlePig Whiskey. Comprised of 52% of our 3-year-old Rye Whiskey, blended with 31% 6-year aged whiskey and 17% 10 year aged whiskey from Alberta, Canada. 

Founded in 2008, WhistlePig is now the most awarded Rye Whiskey maker in the world. Their remote 500-acre hard-working farm in bucolic Shoreham, Vermont, is the perfect place to perfect their experiments with blending and finishing, ultimately leading to a portfolio of deeply complex Rye Whiskeys. In 2017 WhistlePig was awarded with the coveted Best In Show Whiskey title from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Dave Pickerell built WhistlePig in pursuit of crafting the world's finest and most interesting Rye Whiskeys. After years of devotion to patient aging and innovative blending, WhistlePig has turned their attention experimenting with grain - in particular, the practice of malting rye. Before industrial catalysts were introduced to increase efficiency, farmer distillers would malt a small portion of their rye harvest in order to access the grain's starch content and set off the fermentation process. Floral, earthy flavors imparted by malted rye would add nuance to the bold, peppery spice character of classic rye whiskey. To harness these flavors for the oldest expression of WhistlePig yet, they selected a whiskey distilled from 79% rye, 15% malted rye, and 6% malted barley. These grains form a harmony that spans the flavor spectrum, at once soft and floral, rich and savory, and full of spice.Its complexity is only heightened after 18 years in the barrel. Hand bottled on the WhistlePig Farm, in commemoration of the WhistlePig rye harvest and inaugural Vermont floor malting, this 18-year-old WhistlePig is the oldest release of WhistlePig to date. Distinctive from whiskeys of WhistlePig past, focusing on age statements, unique finishes this release focuses on the influences of mash bill on flavor. Bottled by hand with a bespoke Vermont glass stopper, hand-pressed on one of the last remaining 19th-century glass pressing machines, rescued from a historic factory and installed at the WhistlePig Farm. 

The Parker's Heritage collection of small-batch bourbons are a series of rare, limited-edition bourbons crafted in tribute to Master Distiller Parker Beam and his five decades of experience distilling whiskey. Each year, Parker Beam and Heaven Hill select a special expression of whiskey to release under the Parker's Heritage Collection label. The barrels hand-selected for this series include bourbon, rye and wheat whiskeys, among others, and are some of the highest quality and most diverse American whiskeys to be produced. This 13th edition eight year old is the first-ever Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey to be released as a park of the Parker's Heritage Collection, consisting of 75 specialty barrels charred for a full minute and a half, as opposed to a more traditional 40 seconds. The Level 5 char barrels have been rested for eight years and nine months, on the seventh floor of Rickhouse Y. The heavier char allows the whiskey to penetrate further into the barrel, delivering deep notes of spice and wood, resulting in enhanced notes of spice and a distinctive character imparted by their traditional Rye Whiskey mashbill. Parker's Heritage Collection 13th Edition 8-Year-Old Rye is bottled without chill-filtration at 105 proof.

Lovingly handcrafted and aged in Kentucky, Pinhook Bourbon was established in 2014 and has produced several small batch bottlings in their newly restored Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, KY, to much critical acclaim. What makes their line unique is the brand's three distinctive characteristics: its limited availability, mass appeal and strong ties to Kentucky's legacy of horse racing. Each release of Pinhook Bourbon is named after a thoroughbred owned by Bourbon Lane Stable. The label also features the horses racing records on their brand's website. Every fall Pinhook features an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon and Pinhook Rye, each of which is inspired by a thoroughbred horse. Each blend is as unique as the horse on the label. Pinhooking refers to an old Kentucky term for purchasing young thoroughbreds, holding them until they mature, and selling them when they are ready to run. Successful pinhooks much like whiskey - are made on instinct, experience, an appreciation of quality, and a little luck. Pinhook bourbons and ryes are handcrafted to reflect the richness of the Kentucky soil and the character of its beautiful horse country. Limited to a blend of only 65 barrels, this Rye Humor Cask Strength release is the first edition of barrel proof straight rye whiskey from Pinhook. Blended by Sean Josephs at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY the average age of the barrels is around 4 years old. You can expect deep and dense aromas of dark chocolate, candied black licorice, and vanilla extract, followed by robust flavors of raisins, tobacco, cinnamon stick, and sarsaparilla.

Founded by Daniel Barnes, Treaty Oak whiskeys are a fusion of scientific method and innovation.Their modern approach to traditional distilling and aging processes coupled with meticulously selected local ingredients yield a high-quality spirit using custom-made stills. Treaty Oak whiskeys are made using pure Hill Country limestone spring water.They source organic, heirloom corn varietals from Panhandle farmers and mill them at James Brown's bespoke Barton Springs Mill. Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives. Central Texas has a very different climate than Kentucky and other areas producing whiskey. The wide swings of temperature and humidity allow for a maturation that is specific to the weather of the hill country.Their non climate controlled rickhouse was designed to showcase the dynamic climate. Red-Handed Rye is sourced from the Schenely Distillery and aged 10 years at 100 proof. This rare gem boasts of young green pepper with a hint of pear and green apple, balanced by a mild caramel and rich spice finish. The result is a unique and complex drinking experience. 

Kentucky Owl was founded by Charles Mortimer Dedman, a local pharmacist, in 1879. After marrying his wife, Dedman was given a large parcel of land on the banks of the Kentucky River, as a wedding gift from his adopted father who was a local town judge. C.M. Dedman Distillery was established here on the banks of the Kentucky River, producing "The Wise Man's Bourbon" under Distilled Spirits Plant Designation "No. 16", one of Kentucky's original distilleries and part of a booming industry. Kentucky Owl achieved much success and production continued until Prohibition halted distillation. The family-run facility was no match for the "forces of teetotalism, temperance and eventually, the Feds." In 1916, Prohibition left several local distilleries with ample reserves of bourbon. As for Kentucky Owl, approximately 250,000 gallons of bourbon were left over in various stages of aging. Today these reserves would be worth about $40 million in inventory. After Federal agents descended on the Dedman's distillery, the bourbon was seized and shipped up the river by barge to the state capital in Frankfort for "safekeeping" in a warehouse. Kentucky Owl 10-Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Batch #3 features citrus, orange juice, grapefruit, oak, anise, and barbeque spice on the nose. The combination of barrel sweetness, caramel candy, creamy vanilla, toffee, and hazelnut coat the palate before moving into a finish of licorice, absinthe, nutmeg, and a mild flash of cayenne pepper. The 10-year old stocks in this Rye #3 deliver a richer, thicker, syrupy mouthfeel. 

A great whiskey with a noble heart, Noble Oak Rye is first rested in new charred American oak barrels for a minimum of one year. Then it is finished using port wine cask staves to imbue an additional layer of flavor and complexity. The result is a unique rye, elegantly balanced and bold in flavor with notes of fig, toffee and spice. "Our commitment to oak transcends our whiskey, because every bottle plants a tree in partnership with One Tree Planted in an effort to preserve the world's most majestic forests", say the folks at Noble Oak. The time-honored methods used for its distillation create unrivaled whiskey with body, deep color, and richness of flavor that earned this rye 97 points from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2020. You can expect notes of "freshly milled rye, dark crusty bread, and spicy cinnamon are pungent on the nose. The European oak ex-port wine cask staves provide a rounded richness with hints of dark maple to balance out the staunch spicy graininess. The finish is balanced and enjoyable (Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2020). 

Redemption harkens back to the 17th and 18th century, a time when rye was the dominant spirit in America. After the Prohibition forced countless distilleries to close their doors, bootleggers began distilling gin instead of rye, and for good reason gin didn't require aging under the watchful eye of a master distiller and its true flavors could be hidden behind a mask of botanicals. As Americans grew accustomed to gin, rye whiskey became an anachronism. Today all that is changing and rye is having a proper renaissance. Redemption has made it their sole purpose to return rye whiskey back to its rightful place. They produce award-winning whiskeys in small batches, putting a modern twist on decades old traditions. Redemption Whiskeys are meticulously hand-crafted in the river town of Lawrenceburg, Indiana at Whisky Advocate's 2015 Distiller of the Year: the 172-year-old MGP Distillery. While Redemption produces whiskeys perfect to have neat or on the rocks, they can serve equally well as a stunning base for both the traditional and modern cocktail. They have signature bold, spicy rye notes that shine through any cocktail without overpowering the drink. The Redemption Rye Rum Cask Finish is part of their Cask Series and is a straight rye that has been finished in Caribbean rum barrels from Plantation Rum and is bottled at 94 proof. It combines the spice-forward rye with Plantation's sweet sugar cane notes for a unique flavor and experience.

In 1988, near a scenic stream called Lithia Creek in Ashland, Oregon, Jack Joyce and Bob Woodell, fraternity brothers at the University of Oregon, opened the doors of Rogue Brewery. For fifteen years, Rogue Brewery brewed beers such as Dead Guy Ale, Dad's Little Helper and Brutal IPA under the tutelage of John Maier, Rogue Brewery's brewmaster. Then, with the addition of Master Distiller John Couchot in 2003, Rogue Spirits was born. Couchot, who earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Evergreen State College in Washington, was a professional chemist for six years before jumping ship to make spirits. They take pride in all their whiskeys being handcrafted. This starts at the selection of grains, brewing, and distilling, then ends with aging and bottling. All Rogue's spirits are made from ingredients off their own Rogue farms and Oregon Rye Malt Whiskey is no exception. It's a handcrafted whiskey distilled in small batches with an unusual twist the rye and barley are both malted, which takes an edge off the spice notes and makes for a more approachable whiskey. Both are the same kind they use for brewing their beer: Dream Rye and Risk Malts, with the mash fermented using Pacman yeast. It is then aged for three years in new American oak barrels in the marine climate of Newport, Oregon, and bottled at 80 proof.

Lovingly handcrafted and aged in Kentucky, Pinhook Bourbon was established in 2014 and has produced several small batch bottlings in their newly restored Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, KY, to much critical acclaim. What makes their line unique is the brand's three distinctive characteristics: its limited availability, mass appeal and strong ties to Kentucky's legacy of horse racing. Each release of Pinhook Bourbon is named after a thoroughbred owned by Bourbon Lane Stable. The label also features the horses racing records on their brand's website. Every fall Pinhook features an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon and Pinhook Rye, each of which is inspired by a thoroughbred horse. Each blend is as unique as the horse on the label. "Pinhooking" refers to an old Kentucky term for purchasing young thoroughbreds, holding them until they mature, and selling them when they are ready to run. Successful pinhooks much like whiskey are made on instinct, experience, an appreciation of quality, and a little luck. Pinhook bourbons and ryes are handcrafted to reflect the richness of the Kentucky soil and the character of its beautiful horse country. This year brings Pinhook Rye'd On Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, dedicated to a young thoroughbred of the same name that can be seen on the label. Crafted from a mash bill of 60% rye, 20% barley, and 20% corn, this flagship rye has been aged for at least 2 years at their Castle & Key Distillery. This special release is the first incarnation of their proprietary mash bill since restoring the Old Taylor Distillery, their very first 100% in-house spirit. You can expect fruity aromas of peaches, spearmint, and cinnamon, followed by a taste of cherries, toffee, and cloves.

Based in Frisco, Texas, Devils River Whiskey was founded by Mike Cameron, co-founder of Rebecca Creek Whiskey, and president of the Texas Distilled Spirits Association. Their 90-proof bourbon is crafted from the pure Devils River spring waters. The illustrious Texas Ranger John Coffee Hays was one of the first explorers to come across it and named this impressive waterway the "Devils River" in 1840. Nowadays the naturally-filtered limestone spring water is considered the purest water in Texas. In college, Cameron would take frequent trips to the feisty Southwest Texas river, the tributary of the Del Rio that would inspire the name of his new whiskey label as well as provide a pure foundation for the whiskey. Devils River whiskey is distilled using a signature method - traditional copper pot stills designed for distilling complex, flavorful, dark spirits. Devils River Rye Whiskey is their Bourbon's spicier brother. Crafted as Devils River's answer to the recent cry for more rye whiskeys, this small-batch affair is also their way of paying tribute to American whiskey. It consists of a mash of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% barley, which results in an exquisitely balanced taste profile with prominent spice, as well as notes of vanilla, apples, and pepper. The spice balances perfectly with the sweetness of honey and maple and brings some undertones of wood and pepper. 

GRAIN BILL

80% NY rye and 20% NY barley malt

DISTILLING NOTES

Caramel and vanilla flavors from the charred white oak barrels come through first with a spicy rye note from the spirit. The rye becomes more assertive in the finish. Clean, dry and spicy with a nice warmth. We crafted this rye to be smoother and more approachable than many rye whiskeys. Carefully pot-distilled, specifically to be aged in our selection of cooperages and sizes, the spirit is balanced between the spicy grain character of rye and the sweet caramel & vanilla flavors of high quality oak barrels.

AWARDS

2021 NY State Distilled Spirits Competition – Gold 2019 Wine Enthusiast – Best Buy
2019 NY Int’l Spirits Comp. – NY Rye Distillery of the Year
2016 Beverage Testing Institute – 94 points Gold (Exceptional)
2018 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition – Silver
2017 Tastings – 88 points Silver
2017 San Francisco World Spirits – Silver
2016 Wine and Food Classic – Gold
2015 9th Annual American Distilling Institutes – Silver & Best of Category
2015 San Francisco World Spirits – Silver
2014 Beverage Testing Institute 90 points (Exceptional)
2014 San Francisco World Spirits – Bronze
2014 ADI – Silver

Can be enjoyed in classic cocktails like Manhattans, simply neat, or with a touch of water.

GRAIN BILL

80% NY rye and 20% NY barley malt

DISTILLING NOTES

This whiskey started out in new, charred American oak barrels that provide the robust caramel and vanilla notes which balance the spiciness of the rye.  After this initial aging, the whiskey is transferred into freshly emptied American “Port” wine casks from our own winery – Mazza Vineyards.  Because the “Port” casks came from our own winery, they were filled with whiskey within 24 hours of the wine being removed.  This ensures the freshness of the barrels, which provides the maximum flavor and aroma impact.  The longer aging in these “Port” casks gives the whiskey a deeper, more ruby color and rich flavors and aromas of red wine, dark fruit and chocolate.

AWARDS

2019 NY International Spirits Competition – NY Rye Distillery of the Year –

Enjoy this special expression of our Rye Whiskey neat, on the rocks or with a splash of water.

Our newest addition to the family is making a name for itself by becoming our first rye whiskey with this distinguished of an age statement.

Bottled at 80 proof, the mashbill features a slightly spicy, yet approachable, rye resulting in an elegantly complex taste profile and a golden honey hue. This light, yet full-flavored, rye is sure to please any palate. Serving neat, with a drop of water, or on the rocks opens up all of the flavors that were developed from ten years of aging, such as spice, oak, caramel, and tobacco. This rye can be easily enjoyed without the burn associated with higher-proof whiskeys.

Tasting Notes

AROMA: Sweet vanilla and oak with a touch of light fruit

TASTE: Approachable spice and oak notes with hints of caramel

FINISH: Faint tobacco and warm cinnamon heat

COLOR: Golden honey

Wilderness Trail Distillery is a craft operation that was launched in 2012 in Bold Danville, Kentucky. Mixing old traditions with modern science, they aim to create fine bourbon and other spirits. Founded by Shane Baker and Pat Heist, a pair with over 20 years of experience with fermentation and alcohol production under their belts, they craft unique spirits using locally-grown grains. Their spirits are hand-crafted and they pride themselves on being "not interested in making the most, just the best." The founders were left with several yeast strains they had collected over the years in the industry and put them to good use in the distillery. The premium corn, wheat, and rye are sourced from the nearby Caverndale Farms and Walnut Grove Farms from Adairville, Kentucky, while their malted barley comes from Louisville. The natural Kentucky limestone springwater completes the 100% Kentucky list of ingredients. Their production methods include the proprietary Infusion Mashing Process, which together with their unique yeast strains results in a softer and uniquely flavorful distillate. They are the first Kentucky bourbon distillery to use a chemical-free clean steam boiler that minimizes off flavors. Instead of sour mash, they rely on a sweet mash, which enables more flavors to be extracted from the grains. They employ a hybrid pot still, as well as two continuous column stills. All the whiskey is distilled, aged, and bottled on-site. Wilderness Trail produces bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, and bourbon barrel-aged rum. The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey expression employs their sweet mash process and the spirit is barrelled at 100 and 105 proof. These numbers used to be higher, so the final proof of the bottles can vary. Crafted from a mash bill of 56% Kentucky-grown Heritage rye (from the local KY Proud farm), 33% corn, and 11% malted barley, the rye whiskey is then aged for a minimum of 4 years and up to 8 years in the upper floors of their rickhouses. 

Lovingly handcrafted and aged in Kentucky, Pinhook Bourbon was established in 2014 and has produced several small-batch bottlings in their newly restored Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, KY, to much critical acclaim. What makes their line unique is the brand's three distinctive characteristics: its limited availability, mass appeal, and strong ties to Kentucky's legacy of horse racing. Each release of Pinhook Bourbon is named after a thoroughbred owned by Bourbon Lane Stable. The label also features the horses racing records on their brand's website. Every fall Pinhook features an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon and Pinhook Rye, each of which is inspired by a thoroughbred horse. Each blend is as unique as the horse on the label. "Pinhooking" refers to an old Kentucky term for purchasing young thoroughbreds, holding them until they mature, and selling them when they are ready to run. Successful pinhooks much like whiskey are made on instinct, experience, an appreciation of quality, and a little luck. Pinhook bourbons and ryes are handcrafted to reflect the richness of the Kentucky soil and the character of its beautiful horse country. The 2020 rye expression is Pinhook Tiz Rye Time 4YO Vertical Series, a straight rye whiskey that is crafted from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Bottled at 97 proof, it's the first of a new annual-release series. "It will be exciting to follow the maturation of both rye and bourbon over the course of 9 years and understand how each style of whiskey progresses individually as well as in comparison to the other," says Master Blender Sean Josephs. "The 4 Year old rye at 97 proof is already showing great complexity, depth and structure and I am fascinated to go on this whiskey journey which will culminate with a 12 year old rye in 2028."

John Emerald Distilling Company is a family-run small-batch craft distillery from Opelika, Alabama that has been operational since 2014. It is the first legal distillery that opened in the state since the end of the Prohibition era, a year short of a hundred years later. It all started when John and his son Jimmy Sharp, both homebrewers, started looking into opening a brewery. Finding the market to be oversaturated, they turned to craft distilling instead and started rigorous training and education. They came upon an old cotton warehouse in Opelika, a small and business-friendly town where the mayor welcomed them with open arms. The distillery now operates on 8 thousand square feet and has a tasting room that is open for visitors. They produce several spirits using their 350-gallon hybrid pot, each product named after one of John's and Jimmy's ancestors their (grand) father John Emerald Sharp, a successful businessman, being the distillery's namesake. The spirits include award-winning gin, vodka, rum, and a single malt. The latter John Emerald Alabama Single Malt Whiskey is at the very core of their lineup and is the only one to share the name with the distillery itself. Then there's Hugh Wesley's Gin, Elizabeth Vodka, Spurgeon's Barrel Aged Rum, and Gene's Spiced Rum. The John Emerald Purveyor's Series Double Wood is a rye whiskey that is aged in new American oak barrels. But there's a twist, the barrels are filled with pecan wood chips. This unique method of finishing the whiskey ensures that an extraordinary amount of liquid comes into contact with the wood, imparting the sweet and spicy rye with additional nutty pecan notes. The unique rye whiskey is bottled at 86 proof.