Review #221: Middle West Ported Pumpernickel Rye

MASH BILL: undisclosed ratio, but 4 grains: rye (≥51%), corn, barley, wheat

AGE: 5 years

PROOF: 99.5

COST: $99 for 750mL bottle (I’m reviewing a sample)

This is a four-grain rye whiskey with a first maturation in new American white oak and finished in “sun-soaked French tawny port casks.” With an undisclosed mash bill (unsure how much rye is in this other than ≥51%) and an undisclosed finishing time (unsure how much of those dark fruit notes from the port casks I’m going to get), I’m not entirely sure what to expect here. But, I have heard some great info from others about this expression and am looking forward to trying it out. I appreciate a fellow enthusiast for hooking me up with this sample! Let’s dive in!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Mahogany color (1.6), syrupy looking with fat, fast legs at first but the ring of beads this leaves slowly (over minutes) form fat molasses slow legs.

NOSE: Soft, warm spices with lovely dark fruit notes. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice leads off with sticky stewed black currant, fig, and toasted vanilla as a nice backdrop. Going back for a second whiff I get chocolate and rye spice with a light black licorice note. Subtle notes of dark, sweet oak consistently show up as well.

PALATE: A mouthfeel equivalent to a medium thickness simple syrup. An initial sweetness of stewed stone fruit and vanilla is quickly heated up by an explosion of spice notes. Spicy rye, cinnamon Red Hots, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, and allspice. The dark stone fruit and vanilla notes don’t go anywhere though. The rich, dark fruit sweetness balances so well with the spices. Barrel char shows up late going into the finish.

FINISH: Medium length finish that leans sweet. The dark fruit note continues in the finish with those rich notes of black currant, fig, and black cherries. The barrel char note from the end of the palate turns more into an aged oak note. The variety of spices from the palate simplifies to a mix of rye, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The heat of the spice also mellows out quite a bit from the initial bite on the palate. Vanilla remains very consistent throughout this sip and persists in the finish.

RATING: 7.9/10

OVERALL: Fantastic finished rye whiskey! Port finished rye whiskeys are always delicious, but what I really like about this one is the whiskey shines through more than I have seen from other port finished ryes. Considering this is a 4-grain rye whiskey, I was impressed with how much spice there was on the palate. However, the rich, robust dark fruit notes were certainly related to the port finish but I think might have been emphasized from the corn and wheat in the mash bill as well. Excellent example of a port finished rye whiskey.

 

1 | Disgusting | see my 1/10 ratings

2 | Poor | see my 2/10 ratings

3 | Bad | see my 3/10 ratings

4 | Sub-par | see my 4/10 ratings

5 | Good | see my 5/10 ratings

6 | Very Good | see my 6/10 ratings

7 | Great | see my 7/10 ratings

8 | Excellent | see my 8/10 ratings

9 | Incredible | see my 9/10 ratings

10 | Perfect | see my 10/10 ratings