By Richard Thomas
Ranking: B
(Credit score: Heaven Hill)
If you cease and take into consideration the logistics, the double new oak therapy shouldn’t be as commonplace because it has change into. Though secondary maturation provides a method to give a brand new twist to an already current whiskey in inventory, it normally depends upon used barrels to attain that impact, and used is commonly cheaper than a brand new barrel of the very same sort. It’s as a result of the impact achieved–doubling down on the flavors imparted by virgin American oak–that the expense has change into price it and the double new oak format has change into anticipated for any main expression. Thus, it inevitably got here round for Elijah Craig Rye, with Elijah Craig Bourbon having acquired the double new oaking again in 2020.
Toasted barrels are most well-liked for this secondary new oak maturation due to the distinction between what charring and toasting accomplishes, but in addition as a result of charring to some extent is required by Federal legislation in main maturation. Even distillers who use toasted barrels for his or her first spherical of growing older at all times give that toasted barrel a little bit charring afterward. For the second spherical, distillers can go for all-toasted in the event that they select, and that is most well-liked. The slower “cooking” of the barrel produces a extra delicate taste profile, in addition to preserving sure taste compounds within the wooden that will in any other case be destroyed by the warmer charring course of. Heaven Hill follows a customized course of within the former vein, giving their barrels an nearly hour-long toast adopted by a flash of charring.
So, the creation of this whiskey begins with Elijah Craig Rye, made with the Kentucky type rye mash invoice that simply meets the minimal requirement of 51% rye. With 14% malted barley and 35% corn, I’ve come to think about Heaven Hill’s method to rye because the exemplar of what Kentucky rye is: as low on rye as doable and excessive corn, enjoying down the spicy facet of rye as a lot as doable. EC Rye is a no age assertion whiskey, however stated to be between 4 and 6 years outdated, so with a (presumed) a number of months price of secondary growing older I consider the Toasted Rye as 5 – 6 years outdated. The whiskey is bottled at 94 proof.
The Whiskey
The rye takes on a uninteresting, center amber look within the glass, noticeably darker than the same old copper that accompanies so many ryes. The nostril led with dry grass and pine needles, with cinnamon graham crackers with a drizzle of honey developing strongly behind that. The palate develops right into a marshmallow and vanilla sweetness, dusted with cookie spices, together with the pine needles carrying over from the nostril. The end folded over and ran with the vanilla.
The Worth
At $55 a bottle, that is nearly double the value of the usual EC Rye. In fact, making it’s costlier, much more so than a traditional cask completed whiskey. I at all times consider double new oak whiskeys as being at their greatest as a dessert whiskey tipple, and this one isn’t any exception. In order as to whether it’s definitely worth the steep mark-up or not, I believe that relies upon very a lot on particular person tastes. A drinker with a robust fondness for any two of the next–rye whiskey, double new oak growing older or dessert whiskey–will discover the value tag properly price it. As marked up as it’s in comparison with its counterpart, common rye, it’s nonetheless a little bit cheaper than a few of its options as a double new oaked whiskey.
