Old Overholt is a historic Pennsylvania brand founded by Henry Overholt in 1810. After Henry died in 1813, his son Abraham took over the family farm and distillery, building it into an industrial enterprise over the next 40 years, focusing on Monongahela rye whiskey production. Overholt descendants ran the distillery through the years as it thrived until Prohibition, causing the business to shut down production. In 1919, Henry Frick, an Overholt descendant, passed away, leaving his share of the company to one of his partners, Andrew Mellon, who previously had a one-third share of the company along with Charles W. Mauck. This inheritance made Mellon the distillery’s dominant partner, ending over a hundred years of family ownership.
In March 1921, the newly elected president, Warren Harding, chose Andrew Mellon to become the U.S. Secretary of The Treasury. This esteemed position included administering medicinal whiskey licenses to the lucky few distilleries who received them. Of course, Mellon issued a license for his distillery, which allowed Overholt to be one the few brands allowed to sell its stocks as medicinal whiskey. It wasn’t long before Mellon was called out on this obvious conflict of interest, leading him to sell A. Overholt & Co. to a New York-based grocer. In 1932, Old Overholt was sold to National Distillers, and in 1987, James B. Beam Distilling acquired the Old Overholt brand (along with Old Grand-Dad and Old Crow), relocating the Old Overholt brand to Kentucky, making it the oldest continuously maintained American whiskey brand. As an aside, I learned that Andrew Mellon collected cases of Old Overholt throughout the years before Prohibition for himself and as gifts to his friends. A large stash of these bottles was recently found by a Mellon family descendant and sold at auction in June by Sotheby’s.
In late 2023, a press release announced, “Old Overholt® Extra Aged Cask Strength Rye was barreled in the Winter & Autumn seasons of 2012 and laid down in one of the few remaining “Escalator Warehouses” in Clermont, Kentucky – Warehouse V.” With a nod to its 1940s release, Old Overholt 10 Year Cask Strength Rye is bottled at the same 121 proof. Let’s get to it!
Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes.
Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Proof: 121.
Age: 10 Years. Barreled in the winter and autumn of 2012 and bottled in the autumn of 2023.
Mash bill: Undisclosed (but most likely the same as Knob Creek).
Price: $99.
Appearance: Golden caramel.
Nose
Soft caramel chews, toffee, peanut butter, butterscotch, milk chocolate, green tea, cloves, dill, mint, peaches, vanilla icing, lemon citrus, cinnamon spice, and oak. This is a deliciously flavorful and complex nose that features a great balance of spice, well-aged barrel character, and herbaceous rye flavors.
Palate
With a medium viscous mouthfeel, the nose transfers to the palate with toffee, caramel, peanut brittle, green tea, sage, and mint, with peaches, lemon peel, tobacco, cinnamon spice, and oak. The upfront cinnamon spice reminds you this is a rye whiskey. Yet, this well-balanced and complex Beam-centric profile keeps the heat in check to create a delicious, bold, enjoyable drinking experience.
Finish
Cinnamon spice fades on the cheeks with caramel, peanut butter, chocolate, green tea, nutmeg, peaches, and oak. With more time, tannins of leather and tobacco develop in this long finish, landing back to oak.
Conclusion
Old Overholt Cask Strength 10-Year Rye is like Knob Creek Rye on steroids. I love its well-aged profile, which focuses on rich caramel, chocolate, herbaceous rye flavors, and just the right amount of Beam nuttiness. Overall, Old Overholt Cask Strength 10-Year Rye is an excellent, bold, and super flavorful rye that I think bourbon drinkers will love, too.
Rating: 8.3/10.
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.
Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes.
