Review #187: Old Overholt 114 Rye Whiskey

MASH BILL: undisclosed rye whiskey (≥51% rye)

PROOF: 114

AGE: 4 years 

COST: $35

Old Overholt has gotten a lot of positive attention the past few years. It’s not like it’s the new kid on the block considering it’s been around since 1810. I think a large part of this is due to the brand putting out new expressions with some regularity. Starting in 2020, Beam Suntory started offering a 114 proof expression with a 4 year age statement, which is the bottle I’m reviewing today (though release year is uncertain).

The Old Overholt label under Beam is not the original Monongahela Mash Rye Whiskey that the original Old Overholt label implemented (a sweet mash of 80% rye and 20% malted barley). While that is the mash bill used for the whiskey from 1810 to the point Beam acquired them in 1987, Beam changed the mash bill when they acquired it. At the time of acquisition, rye whiskey was all but dead. It’s speculated that the Beam mash bill for Old Overholt is a high corn mash bill in an attempt to give some appeal to the lovers of the more popular bourbon whiskey category. While the Old Overholt mash bill that Beam uses is undisclosed, I would say with confidence it’s not the original 80% rye, 20% barley mash bill because the A. Overholt label does clearly demarcate this 80/20 mash bill on their label. This would suggest that Old Overholt is something different since it’s not disclosed.

At any rate, while I get into some of the background of most of my whiskey reviews, I’m not going to do that here. There are plenty of great reviews out there of Old Overholt that really dives into the entire history of the brand. So no need to recreate the wheel for this one because after reading a few reviews and how thorough they are, I don’t think I have anything additional to add. So, with that, we’re just diving into the whiskey!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Mahogany color (1.6); mildly oily with fast legs and some speckling of whiskey left clinging to the glass. 

NOSE: Spicy and nutty. Cinnamon, rye, black peppercorns, and earthy turmeric all provide an earthy sting paired with a bit proof heat. A nice nuttiness in the background with an occasional touch of cherry syrup and orange zest providing subtle sweetness. This has quite a bit of depth to it but not too complex.

PALATE: A medium mouthfeel and astringent. The spice is present right away. Dry rye berries, spicy oak, numbing pepperiness, all collide right away with a dose of ethanol to tingle the palate. A delayed, but well defined rich cherry note provides a pleasant reprieve from the spice. A toasted nuttiness can be found as well. This has a lightness to it right at the swallow and going into the finish.

FINISH: A short to medium, tannic finish (to be fair, the spice stings your cheeks for quite a while, but all the tasting notes are over within 15 seconds or so for me). The spicy oak transfers over well but develops more of a charred profile. Black pepper and rye spice is ever present. There is a dirty earthiness as well. That cherry note that was on the palate fades out to match how it was on the nose: only occasionally present. I do get a more consistent orange peel note that shows up right at the tail end of the finish as the earthier notes start to die off.

RATING: 5.6/10

OVERALL: Simply put, I’m not feeling this as a sipper, but it does make a decent cocktail with its higher proof and really bold spice that prevents it from getting dominated by sugars or bitters. The nose was very promising, but the palate dropped off, and the finish fell too short for me. The cherry note on the palate was quite nice, but it was an overall spicy and hot pour for being quite simple otherwise.

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, Hillrock Estate Sauternes CS

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

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

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, BBCo Origin High Wheat, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, Maker's Mark Wood Finishing releases, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 121.2, BBC DS #7, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08, RR15