The Last Call

     There is something special about finding a well-aged Indiana rye whiskey, especially one that brings together everything I enjoy about a good MGP rye while turning up the oak, spice, and complexity. Tonight, I’m checking out a 12-year-old single barrel pick from Circle City Whiskey Company, selected for Holly’s Package Store in Greentown, Indiana. Bottled at a hefty 64.5% ABV, this is a barrel-proof rye that immediately caught my attention.      I also had the opportunity to help with the bottling of this particular pick, which made the experience a little more personal. Getting to participate in that process was a lot of fun, and it gave me another reason to look forward to opening this bottle. At around $130, it isn't an inexpensive pour, but a 12-year-old, single barrel, cask-strength rye certainly isn't something I come across every day. I have some aged Indiana rye on my shelves, but very little that combines this kind of age with this much proof....

     Indiana craft whiskey continues to be one of my favorite things to explore, especially when I get to find a distillery doing things its own way. Backroads Distilling out of Laotto, Indiana, is a great example of what makes this part of the whiskey world exciting. They're working with locally harvested grains, handling their own distilling and bottling, and building a portfolio that reflects the area they're from.      Today we're checking out something a little different from them: their first rye whiskey, Firehouse Rye. I actually got to try this one during a visit to the distillery, and it was good enough that I decided to bring a bottle home. That's always a promising start. There's also a great story behind the name. Backroads comes from a fourth-generation firefighter family, and the bottle pays homage to that background and the local firehouse that once had a field of rye growing behind it. I love seeing a bottle connect the whiskey to the people...

     Frey Ranch has built a strong reputation in the craft whiskey world, largely because of their true farm-to-bottle philosophy. Based out of Nevada, the distillery grows its own grains, distills the whiskey, ages it, and bottles everything on-site. Very few distilleries can honestly say they control the entire process from seed to bottle, and that alone makes Frey Ranch an interesting name to watch.      Going into this review, expectations were a little mixed. Their bourbon had received a lot of hype, but the experience didn’t quite live up to it. With that in mind, the hope was that their Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye might offer something a little different. Rye has been gaining popularity over the past couple of years, and it’s always exciting to see craft distilleries put their own spin on the style.      The mash bill is particularly interesting because it uses 100% winter rye grown directly on the Frey Ranch farm. That level of contr...

         Joseph Magnus is probably best known these days for its Cigar Blend Bourbon, a whiskey that has become one of those bottles people either swear by or spend a lot of time comparing batch to batch. I've had a few different versions myself, and one thing I've learned is that they can vary quite a bit. Some are bottles I'd absolutely hunt down, while others aren't quite as exciting.     So when Joseph Magnus released its Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey, I was immediately interested. The company has talked about this being its first rye release in more than 100 years, which is certainly a fun piece of marketing. But for me, the much more interesting part is what's actually inside the bottle.     Joseph Magnus is very transparent about sourcing this whiskey from MGP, using the classic 95% rye and 5% malted barley mash bill. MGP has built quite a reputation for producing excellent rye whiskey, and I've never been shy about...

     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 ...

     Smoke Wagon has built a reputation on bold presentation and even bolder sourced whiskey, and their “Triple 7” release leans right into that identity. A blend of three 7-year-old MGP whiskeys, this limited batch (1,600 bottles) plays on symmetry and selection rather than age statements or barrel proofs.      After sourcing from MGP, Smoke Wagon brings the barrels to Nevada, allowing the desert climate to influence the whiskey before blending and bottling it. It’s not barrel proof or single barrel, but rather a carefully selected multi-barrel blend designed to highlight balance across mash bills. What makes this one interesting isn’t just the concept, but the pricing chaos around it. Depending on where you look, this bottle can swing wildly from reasonable to downright ridiculous. So the real question becomes: is what’s in the glass worth the hunt? For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/QHqdG2uYk3g . Age Statement: 7 years...

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...

     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...