The Last Call

     There’s something undeniably classy about the new decanter lineup coming from  James E. Pepper . The bottle design alone feels like a throwback to a different era of whiskey, with that heavy decanter styling looking right at home on a back bar or display shelf. Over the last couple of years, the brand has really started expanding both its reach and its ambition, moving beyond the standard releases and diving into more premium territory with these decanter expressions.      After the success of the decanter bourbon releases and the newer single barrel offerings, the arrival of a rye version almost felt inevitable. Still, it showed up somewhat unexpectedly, and with a fairly aggressive price tag attached to it. That hesitation was real at first. At nearly $100 in most markets, this isn’t exactly an impulse buy. But curiosity eventually won out. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/p98Can3Pmgc . Age Statement: 6.3-8 y...

       There’s something exciting about finding a store pick that instantly feels different the moment you pick up the bottle, and this Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Rye absolutely delivered on that promise. Picked by Rich out of Greentown, Indiana, this wasn’t just another random single barrel sitting on a shelf. This was one of those bottles that local bourbon groups talk about for weeks after it disappears, and judging by how quickly it sold out, people knew it was special.      Jack Daniel’s has quietly become one of the most reliable names in American whiskey when it comes to rye. A lot of people still associate the brand with Old No. 7 and whiskey mixed with cola, but their barrel proof rye program is on an entirely different level. These single barrels consistently bring bold character, heavy oak influence, and an oily richness that stands toe-to-toe with some of the best high-proof rye whiskey on the market.    ...

          When Heaven Hill announced that the very first batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye would become an ongoing A, B, and C batch release series, it immediately grabbed the attention of rye fans and bourbon drinkers alike. Elijah Craig’s barrel proof bourbon line already carries a loyal following, so the idea of bringing that same treatment over to rye whiskey felt like a natural next step. The hype hit hard almost instantly, especially after this release earned Whiskey Advocate’s Whiskey of the Year for 2025.      Finding a bottle turned into a hunt for many people. Shelves cleared quickly, secondary prices climbed a bit, and most drinkers were left hoping they’d eventually stumble across one at retail. That’s exactly what happened here months later: sitting quietly on a shelf at only slightly above SRP. At first glance, this bottle almost feels understated for a barrel proof release. The proof lands at a fairly low 54% ABV, and even...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Fincasa Whiskey,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Fincasa is back with Batch 4 of their rum barrel-finished rye, and this one feels like a bit of a full-circle moment. After stepping into Puerto Rican rum casks in Batch 3, they’ve returned to Barbados rum barrels, territory that helped define their earlier releases. Having followed this lineup since Batch 1, it’s been fun watching the progression.       Like previous releases, Batch 4 is built on a foundation of Indiana-sourced rye, most likely from MGP, a distillery that’s become synonymous with high-quality rye whiskey. While the exact mash bill isn’t disclosed this time around, earlier batches leaned on a blend of the classic 95/5 and 51% rye recipes, and this seems to carry a similar profile. The whiskey is aged for at least 5 years before being finished for 8 months in Barbados rum bar...

       Hard Truth has been a staple in my whiskey journey for a long time, and for good reason. As an Indiana-based craft distillery, they’ve consistently shown they can stand alongside bigger names, especially with their sweet mash approach. This 7-year rye marks their oldest release to date, and with such a small batch, only around 10 barrels, it immediately feels like something special. There’s also a bit of personal anticipation here. I’ve had their younger expressions and even picked up their 6-year distillery release, but before I could get to it, this 7-year dropped.       Naturally, expectations are high, especially knowing how well their younger sweet mash ryes already perform. This is a sweet mash straight rye whiskey, which sets it apart right away. Unlike the more common sour mash process, each fermentation here starts completely fresh—no backset, no carryover. That means every batch has the potential for subtle variation, influenced b...

     Woodford Reserve and I have had a bit of a rocky relationship lately. Revisiting some of their recent releases hasn’t exactly gone smoothly, especially when expectations and execution don’t quite line up. Then comes this barrel strength rye, a bottle that originally launched with a premium price tag but has quietly found itself sitting on shelves at steep discounts. So the real question becomes: is this a redemption story for Woodford, or just another case of hype cooling off?      This is Woodford’s true barrel strength Kentucky straight rye whiskey, bottled at a bold 62.55% ABV. The mash bill leans rye-forward with only 53% rye, giving it a better step into rye for bourbon lovers. Woodford’s use of this mash bill leans slightly sweeter than traditional high-rye recipes, and at barrel proof, it gives them a chance to showcase how their distillate holds up without proofing adjustments. It’s also worth noting this comes in a 700ml bottle, part of their ...

     Old Elk has become one of those instantly recognizable bottles on the shelf, from the unique shape to that signature antler topper. While the brand is known for sourcing and experimenting with different finishes, they’ve carved out a solid reputation for picking quality barrels. This particular bottle came as a bit of a lucky find, scored on clearance, which always makes a review a little more exciting.           Old Elk’s Straight Rye uses the well-known Indiana mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, distilled by MGP. Rather than finishing or altering the whiskey, this release leans into a more traditional approach, letting the base distillate and barrel selection do the talking. Given Old Elk’s track record, the real question becomes how well they’ve selected and blended these barrels to stand out in a crowded rye category. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/3_GjX985gfI . Age Statement: 5 years. ...

          Rare Saint, based in the Indianapolis area and connected to well-known establishments like  St. Elmo Steak House ,  1933 Lounge , and  Harry & Izzy’s , has been steadily releasing sourced MGP whiskey over the past few years. After being underwhelmed by one of their previous rye releases, I admittedly stepped away for a bit. But I am a sucker for port cask finishes, and this one pulled me right back in.      The Trinity of Port is an ambitious concept: a blend of four MGP mash bills, each at least five years old, finished separately in ruby, tawny, and white port barrels before being blended back together. Limited to just 834 bottles, this release swings for the fences on paper. After blending and resting, the whiskey was divided and finished in ruby, tawny, and white port barrels. Those three components were then blended back together to create the final product.      The transparency here is apprec...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Silverthorn Reserve,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.        Silverthorn Reserve is a new name hitting shelves in 2026, but they are coming out of the gate with confidence. Their model is built on thoughtful barrel selection, transparent sourcing, blending, and finishing techniques, and that transparency is front and center with this release.       The Finishing Art Port Finished Rye is a six-barrel batch built from well-aged Indiana rye stocks and blended. After blending, the whiskey is finished in port casks, though the exact finishing time is not disclosed. Typically, port finishes run a few months rather than a year or more, but we should know a bit more via the notes and taste. On paper, it checks every box I get excited about: age, proof, finishing, and full disclosure on what’s inside the bottle. For the full video review visit the l...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Silverthorn Reserve,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Silverthorn Reserve is one of the newer names hitting shelves in 2026, and they’re making it clear from the start that transparency is part of the mission. The brand provides full details on sourcing, mash bills, and blend percentages. That kind of openness is always a strong first step.      The Blender's Art expression brings together well-aged stocks from Georgia and Indiana, blending straight bourbon and straight rye whiskeys. On paper, it promises both maturity and balance, walking the line between classic bourbon richness and rye-driven lift. The Indiana stocks are likely sourced from MGP, known for their 95/5 rye mash bill, while the Georgia bourbon adds an intriguing layer of age and regional character that is less commonly seen at this maturity.      It is a thoughtful...

     Larrikin Bourbon Company has officially made its way onto Indiana shelves in 2026, and not quietly. This single barrel, barrel proof High Wheat Rye selected by Handy Spot Liquor immediately stood out as something different. I had the chance to taste it on site alongside their bourbon pick, and it was one of those pours that makes you stop mid-sip and rethink what you thought you knew about mash bills.      Based in Kentucky, not far from  Wild Turkey , Larrikin has been transparent about sourcing while also working toward its own distillation. This particular release is sourced from Florida, which makes the profile even more intriguing with its unconventional mash bill to boot.      Larrikin, formerly known as Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company, went through a thoughtful rebrand to carve out a clearer identity. Founder Greg Keeley, originally from Australia and now based in Kentucky, is also a U.S. veteran, which adds a meaningful layer t...

     Hard Truth has been one of the most exciting distilleries coming out of southern Indiana, not only for their quality but for their advocacy in establishing “Indiana Rye” as a recognized classification. From the first time I tried their gin, I’ve been hooked, and since then I’ve made it a point to chase down their limited releases whenever possible. This Sweet Mash Double Oaked Straight Rye immediately had my attention. A five-year age statement, bottled at barrel proof, and finished in a secondary charred cask? That is a recipe that speaks directly to everything I love about double oaked rye.      This expression starts with a 94% rye, 6% malted barley mash bill. It is produced using a sweet mash process, meaning each fermentation begins fresh rather than incorporating backset from a previous run. After initial aging, the whiskey is transferred into a second charred barrel, where it rests long enough to bring the total age to at least five years. The b...

     Still Austin has been one of those Texas distilleries that quietly keeps earning my trust bottle after bottle. Based out of Austin, Texas, they’ve been doing some genuinely impressive work in the craft space, and once their standard rye finally started showing up here in Indiana, it didn’t take long for me to become a fan. When I saw the cask strength version hit shelves, it was an instant buy, no hesitation.      Texas whiskey can be polarizing, and I get why. But I’ve personally had great experiences with Still Austin, Balcones, Garrison Brothers, and others, so I was genuinely excited to see how they’d handle a barrel-proof rye. It’s distilled, aged, and bottled in Texas, which matters because the climate plays a massive role in how these whiskeys mature. The heat accelerates interaction with the barrel, and Still Austin leans into that rather than trying to mask it. Kept at cask strength, this whiskey doesn’t hide behind filtration or dilution....

     High West is one of those brands that pulled me in early on, and I’ve stuck around ever since. From Campfire being one of my first love-at-first-sip bottles to always keeping Double Rye picks on hand, they’ve earned a lot of goodwill with me over the years. That said, I’ve also been vocal about their pricing creeping up while some releases haven’t quite hit the same highs as earlier versions. So when I saw a bottled-in-bond rye made entirely from High West’s own distillate, I was curious… and cautiously optimistic.      This release feels like a statement bottle. No sourcing, no blending gymnastics — just 100% High West rye, bottled in bond, and ready to stand on its own. This Straight Rye Whiskey is bottled in bond at 50% ABV and aged a minimum of four years, meeting all the classic Bottled-in-Bond requirements. While four years isn’t a headline-grabbing age, this whiskey makes it clear that age statements don’t tell the whole story. For the full vide...

     Chattanooga Whiskey is one of those distilleries that quietly grows on you until one day you realize half your shelf has their logo on it. For a long time, their bottles felt like the “bridesmaid, never the bride” option for me, always interesting, just never the one I grabbed first. Lately though, that’s changed in a big way. The more I’ve explored their lineup, the more I’ve come to appreciate how thoughtful and transparent their approach is, especially as a true grain-to-glass craft distillery.      This Straight Rye Malt is a perfect example of why Chattanooga keeps pulling me back in. It’s not the easiest bottle to find in my Indiana market, so when I spotted one, I didn’t hesitate. Chattanooga doesn’t give exact mash bill percentages, but they do something even better than most brands: they tell you exactly what’s in the whiskey, right on the bottle. This rye-forward mash is built around pale malted rye, supported by yellow corn, caramel malted r...

     Smoke Wagon is one of those brands that immediately draws attention, partly because of its striking bottle design with wax seals and etched glass, and partly because of the mystery surrounding its sourcing and blending philosophy. Based out of Nevada, Smoke Wagon has built a reputation around curated blends, often utilizing MGP distillate while being unusually transparent about what goes into the bottle. Unfortunately, distribution is limited, and for me that means a drive to Ohio just to pick one up, but curiosity finally got the better of me.      This release is a blend of two distinct rye mash bills. The first consists of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. The second is one of MGP’s newer recipes, made up of 51% rye and 49% malted barley. These components are blended together and released at a robust proof without clear indication of whether it is true cask strength. The bottle reviewed here was bottled on September 30th, 2023, and is labeled...

     Bulleit’s 95 Rye 12 Year feels like a quiet surprise in a market that rarely leaves anything this good under the radar for long. Originally released years ago and then seemingly gone for good, it resurfaced in 2024 with little fanfare, almost as if Bulleit simply decided to remind people what well-aged MGP rye can be. With a 12-year age statement, a classic 95/5 mash bill, and a very approachable price point, expectations were already high before the cork was pulled.     As someone who has grown increasingly fond of rye over the past year, this bottle immediately caught my attention. The standard Bulleit Rye is okay overall, but this felt like a chance to see that familiar profile elevated by real age and careful barrel selection. According to  Bulleit they selected specific barrels for this release. For the full video review visit the link here:    https://youtu.be/6gFjqtBPsBc . Age Statement: 12 years. ABV: 46%. Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% ma...