Roughly ten years ago, I fell in love with what many consider the most polarizing mash bill in American whiskey, 95/5 rye. The zero-corn combination of 95% rye and 5% malted barley yields a profile of distinctive character, one I’ve been fascinated with since my first sip in 2014. At that time, it was my go-to whiskey for cocktails, though it didn’t take long for me to appreciate sipping it neat at barrel strength. In the years that followed, I pursued 95/5 rye expressions bottled by producers from West Virginia to Utah, all of which were distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. As the whiskey boom intensified, many of these age-stated expressions became relatively scarce – some were modified or even discontinued due to a lack of well-aged supply. But 95/5 rye’s popularity was only beginning. As a spirits writer, I’ve sampled various 95/5 rye whiskeys – some straight, some finished, yet each telling its own story. With the encouragement of family and friends, I accepted the challenge of creating a special 95/5 rye blend – one that would combine the most unique elements from choice barrels to tell a new, yet classically inspired story. With time and persistence Raconteur Rye was born. Raconteur Rye is a carefully crafted combination of three Indiana distilled 95/5 rye whiskeys: a conventional straight rye, a straight rye aged in a new toasted oak barrel, and a straight rye finished in a second-fill Mizunara oak cask that previously held 16-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon. These whiskeys, each aged a minimum of seven years, were batched in a proprietary ratio to accent their signature attributes. Raconteur Rye is to be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, in a cocktail, or however you appreciate your whiskey. But regardless of your preference, always enjoy it responsibly. Cheers!David JenningsCurator & Co-creator Recipe: 95% rye, 5% malted barleyAge: 7 years, 6 monthsABV/Proof: 60.24% / 120.48 proofVolume: 750mlYield: 520 bottles BATCH 1 TASTING NOTES Nose: strawberry frosting, blood orange, spice drops, cranberry, lemon zest, fruit gum Taste: savory fruit punch, woody spice, blackberry jam & toast, dried citrus, vibrant oak Finish: long w/ singed red grapefruit, sweet charred oak, watermelon candy, hints of clove & licorice
