The Last Call

     Penelope 9 Year Tokaji Cask Finished Rye Whiskey Review.      Penelope has built a reputation for innovation, especially through their creative finishing techniques. Their Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Casks is a perfect example of that craftsmanship. Coming in at 52% ABV and aged at least nine years, this release blends MGP’s signature 95/5 rye recipe with a Hungarian dessert wine cask finish. As a longtime fan of Penelope’s transparency and flavor-forward approach, I was eager to see how their rye handled this sweet, complex finish.      The Tokaji cask finish instantly caught my attention, it’s not something you see often in rye whiskey. Known for its luscious sweetness, Tokaji wine brings vibrant fruit and honeyed notes that can either elevate or overpower a whiskey. Let’s see how Penelope balances it. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Xt1IWagSys8 . Age Statement: 9 years. ABV:  52%...

 2XO White Oak Finished Rye Whiskey Review.      From the mind of Dixon Dedman, known for his work with Kentucky Owl, 2XO has made quite an impression on the whiskey scene. Their early Phoenix Blend set a strong foundation, and Dedman’s reputation as a blender gave fans a reason to be excited. But as the brand expanded with a variety of limited releases and oak experiments, I found myself a bit overwhelmed by the constant flow of black and gold bottles. So, when 2XO announced their first rye, the White Oak Rye, I was intrigued enough to give them another shot. After all, double-oaked rye is still a rarity in today’s market. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Lq3qNIS8Jzo . Age Statement: N/A. ABV: 46%. Mash bill: 95% Rye, 5% malted barley. (Chained white oak finished). Area of Distillation: Kentucky. Appearance: Golden hue. On the nose:      The aroma is far more delicate than expected. Herbal and medicinal notes min...

       Hard Truth Toasted Mizunara Oak Finished Rye Whiskey Review.      Hard Truth has been making waves in the rye whiskey scene, and tonight I’m diving into something bold and unusual from their lineup: a straight rye whiskey finished with toasted Mizunara oak, bottled at cask strength. Based in southern Indiana, Hard Truth has built a reputation around their sweet mash process, where fermentation tanks are completely cleaned between batches,labor-intensive, but it creates a uniquely clean and vibrant flavor profile.      Mizunara oak itself is special. Harvested only after trees reach at least 200 years of age in Japan, it imparts flavors unlike typical American or European oak. It’s a notoriously expensive wood to use, so most distilleries work with staves instead of full barrels. Seeing Hard Truth experiment with this finish had me eager to see if their craft touch could bring something truly memorable. For the full video review vi...

 Five & 20 Spirits Deep Water 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Five & 20 Spirits  link here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Over the past year I've had the pleasure of reviewing several releases  from Five and 20 Spirits. Their standard rye is a great intro to craft rye whiskey, Even at the "younger" age, it really had potential. Seeing they offered a seven year bottling really hit well with me. Now Five & 20 is basically split into two sides, the brewery  and spirits. The great thing is all their grains are locally grown in  New York and they even list the farms on their website. On top of this, they are aging, distilling, bottling, everything on their own. Plus, when it comes to finishing they are using their own in house wine, sherry, and beer casks. Honestly, seeing this level of craft is amazing. It truly makes the pr...