Review #141: True Blind – Tumblin' Dice SiB Rye Whiskey

COST: $80 for 750mL bottle (I am reviewing a sample.)

AGE: 8.5

MASH BILL: 95% rye, 5% malted barley

PROOF: 115.2

This mystery pour was provided to me as part of a sample swap. All the tasting notes below are prior to discovering any details about this pour (including the specs listed above). I mention in the tasting where I start guessing at mash bill, proof, and age. Welp…I’m prepared…let’s see how bad I can screw this up!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Bright red, mahogany color (1.6), fat, medium speed legs with a very tiny ring of beads that form on the glass.

NOSE: A sweet and spicy nose with notes of rye spice, demerara sugar, crème Brule, roasted peanut shells, and white pepper. There’s a touch of cherry and a big, bold orange peel. There’s a light vanillin rich oak note and a consistent tingle of spice on the nose. I’m leaning rye whiskey because of the consistent spice, but maybe a wheater just big on baking spice. On to the palate!

PALATE: This makes me think this is definitely a rye whiskey, and just because I’m familiar with this profile, I’m going to say MGP rye! I’m getting a lot of spice and herbal notes up front on the palate: rye spice, black pepper, cinnamon, sage, and a little fennel. There’s some sweetness also with a very light cherry note, caramelized orange slice, and vanilla. The mouthfeel is a little thin and slightly evaporative on the palate. I think this is a 105-115 proof rye whiskey.

FINISH: A nice long finish with notes of caramel sauce, tannic oak, a touch of cherry and orange peel at the forefront but a backdrop of black pepper. A little vanilla cream weaves its way back in, and then fades out leaving a tingle of rye spice and peppery numbness on the palate. Subtle notes of oak ebb and flow for nearly a minute after the swallow.

RATING: 7.4/10

VALUE: 6.8/10 (This is an attempt to take into account price, tasting rating, age, and proof. See my spreadsheet for more details. I try to minimize the personal aspect of value in this score i.e. how it makes me feel, what I think of the story, etc.)

GUESS: 110-115 proof, 7 year, high rye, rye whiskey. This is so tasty with a nice sweetness to match the spice that I’m going to guess this is a MGP rye. (MGP really knows how to do rye whiskey!)

REVEAL: Tumblin' Dice Single Barrel Rye picked by NOVA Whiskey Club and DMV Spirits. 8.5 years, barreled on 12/12/14 and bottled on 6/9/23, 115.2 proof, mash bill is 95% rye, 5% barley, Distilled in Indiana. (Considering Tumblin' Dice does source, I’m going to assume they sourced this from MGP)

OVERALL: This is a delicious rye! This reiterates that regardless of the label, if you see a MGP rye, it’s going to be delicious. This has a much better balance of sweet and spicey than some of the older 10 and 11 year MGP ryes I’ve had. It was a little tannic and astringent at times, but never overwhelming. This was a very consistent performance throughout the entire sip and experience. This is a damn good whiskey and I’m glad I got to try it, especially with this being the first Tumblin' Dice label I’ve had.

1 | Disgusting | ...I've not subjected myself to this level

2 | Poor | Balcones Lineage

3 | Bad | High West Double Rye, Jefferson's Ocean 28

4 | Sub-par | Weller's SR, Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

5 | Good | Buffalo Trace, Sazerac Rye, Green River Wheated

6 | Very Good | Blanton's, Holladay Bourbons, Eagle Rare

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, WhistlePig PiggyBack SiB, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, JD SiB BiB, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Barrel Bourbon Batch T8ke, BBC DS #7, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08