Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 10 minutes.
Distillery: Distilled in Kentucky and Indiana.
Release Number: BBR1, bottled August 14, 2025.
Proof: 114.6. Barrel strength, non-chill filtered.
Age: 7-years, 10 months – Kentucky Bourbon, 12-years, 3 months – Indiana Rye.
Mash bill: 70% Corn/21% Rye/9% Malted Barley & 95% Rye/5% Malted Barley.
Price: $121.99.
Appearance: Golden caramel.
Nose
Brown sugar, toffee, chocolate pudding, macadamia nuts, cherries, ripe apricots, orange slice, cinnamon bun, vanilla, delicate dill, cloves, and cinnamon spice. This is a great nose. There’s a sharp rye spiciness, but it’s well-balanced. I especially appreciate the great blend of rich barrel flavors of chocolate and toffee, with pitted and stone fruits.
Palate
The nose moves on to the palate, starting with brown sugar, toffee, toasted oak, vanilla, with cherries, ripe apricots, green tea, cloves, and baking spice. There’s a nice punch of spice that builds through the finish, but, like the nose, it’s very well integrated and is never intrusive. Equally impressive is how enjoyable this is to sip at its barrel strength proof point.
Finish
Baking spice continues to cover the whole palate with cherries, orange citrus, vanilla, and pipe tobacco. There’s a medium-long finish that leaves you with lingering spice, cherries, soft leather, and pipe tobacco.
Conclusion
I appreciate what David Jennings has done with this release. The 12-year MGP rye brings the rich, dark oak, adding complexity and maturity to this blend, while the 7-year Green River bourbon contributes fruitier, brighter, and sweeter notes. It’s not every day we see a 12-year-old barrel-proof MGP 95/5 rye as a stand-alone release, let alone being used in a blend, and certainly not for $122. Caleb’s Crossing Bourbon & Rye Blend is unique, delicious, and bold, yet approachable to a wide range of whiskey drinkers, especially for those who enjoy rye.
Rating: 7.8/10.
The sample used for this review was provided courtesy of Caleb’s Crossing at no cost and without any stipulations. The opinions of this review are my own.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.
