Very well done and flavorful rye whiskey with an interesting variety of oak used in the barrel aging.Holds up to the barrel and a nice counterfoil to the more pronounced nbarrel influence.
The 3 Bottle Set of the new Heaven Hill Grain to Glass series is an impressive beast !
Notes: An extension of the Grain to Glass line, This is one of the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series , in this case the Kentucky Straight Rye 107 Proof. The Grain to Glass series is a ongoing series using a single varietal of corn from from a seed company called Becks Hybrids , a family owned seed company in Indiana.This years varietal Becks 6225- was chosen and grown by a family owned farm called Peterson Farms in Nelson County and just across the road from Heaven Hill.
The 2025 Specialty Barrel Series is meant to showcase the artistry involved ( and the results) of barrel selection and maturation. The three whiskies of this selection include the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, The Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, and this, The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. Each are aged (not just conditioned in) in char level 3 Chinquapin Oak barrels which are a species of American oak native to Central and Eastern North America for a period of 6 years. Chinquapin Oak has , among other characteristics, a vanillin content. This results in heightened ones of butterscotch, crème brullee , toasted nut, chocolate and coffee notes among others, and increases the complexity, layering , and boldness to the whiskies.As a side note the whiskey was aged at Cox’s Creek in rickhouse W5 on floors 3 and 5, which slightly varies from the rickhouses and floors used for the standard edition, which were rickhouses W5 and W6 on floors 3, 4, and 5.Not sure how much this location change affects the whiskey per se, I am sure I is much more due to the wood selection than location. Assuming they were located differently more for inventory/differentiation than any particular climate control issue.
This expression, the Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey uses a mash bill of 63 % Rye Corn 24 %, and 13% malted Barley which is a fair deviation from the standard mash bill for Heaven Hill even their usual Rye Mash bill. Also, the corn is also a very specific stain/genome the Becks 6225, which is also used in the other grain to glass series , but as stated before the additional variable in this series is the Chinquapin Oak to. add a further layer of variation to the mix as it were, than any particular climate control issue. As a side note, generally speaking barrels selected for long term aging (once identified) are carefully sequestered in the center of the rickhouses in the middle of the thermal mass as it were to have as little fluctuation in temperature as possible to prolong the process of aging and get more rack time. Other barrels can end up in the other direction as each ( or at least that batch which is usually multiple barrels ) are placed for the maximum benefit for the time frame for maturation – a very complex set of calculations to get the very best result for each whiskey !
Appearance: Clear gold amber color like a light amber maple syrupVery light coat on swirling with a very thin meniscus and quite a waterfall of tears closely spaced as the rye seeks its way back down the glass.at first then only a few larger drops/legs.
First Impression: Earthy spices, nutmeg, cardamom, sage(?) roasted hazel nuts, Virginia tobacco.
Taste: Nicely honeyed with a rollout of Vietnamese cinnamon, caramelized sugar, panda, sotol. Finish is pleasantly lingering with a barrel char/toasted sweetness and lingering aromatic yet earthy spices leave a pleasant whisper of a finish to savor. Shiripin as the Japanese say – It has a tail!
Drinks: Very nice on its own with a touch of (warm) water to open it up nicely, quite good appreciated on it own. Makes a proper and delicious Manhattan or decadent Old Fashioned, the whiskey at 107 proof holding its own nicely without being overwhelming.
Bottle: Beautiful cylindrical and slightly broadening towards the top with a shorter thick neck that harks back to a previous age. Cork has a short T too with a real cork , Cork has a nice inset medallion with the Heaven Hill logo, Heft is wrong for a bronze medallion but it looks nice. Maybe for a few pennies more they could improve on that for a premium bottle such as this? Label graphics are simple and tasteful. This expression is distinguished from its sibling by the dark moss/Swedish green color of both its lower label and neck seal. Specs and narration on the contents are extensive across both labels on this bottle , relax and enjoy them
Other: Take a look at our reviews of other Heaven Hill products, such as the Elijah Craig, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, Heaven Hill Parker Heritage, and Evan Williams whiskies.
Final Thoughts: A very well done whiskey by Heaven Hill – Who is to be applauded for their experimentation and innovation – not to mention their charitable works through the Parker Heritage and Farm rescue programs among others. Overall an interesting, flavorful, and delicious Rye Whiskey . Rye can sometimes be a disappointing mess at times at times – either tasting like broken glass or impossibly harsh or weak- a difficult balance to get right !
Website: www.heavenhilldistillery.com/graintoglass
As usual with the Heaven Hill websites in general , they have a fair amount of information – usually a lot more than most but still IMHO lacking in certain details. ( My gold standard is the Waterford Whiskey websites for individual release) . Definietly worth looking at though!
Pour yourself a glass or two of their whiskeys and sit down and read up or listen to their podcasts, Lot of information to absorb and enjoy !
