On the heels of Smoke Wagon’s 9 year high malted barley experimental rye, comes the small batch version using the same mash bill of 51% rye, 49% malted barley. The former were limited single barrel expressions using different char levels (barrels C – F). If you could find these experimental rye bottles they appear to be in the neighborhood of $300 to $900. I’ve read a few great reviews so when I saw this small batch expression available on Seelbach’s for $80, I was all over it. I reached out to Nevada H&C Distilling with questions regarding the differences between the experimental and small batch expressions with no luck hearing back. The Bourbon Culture recently did an excellent Smoke Wagon experimental rye review and told me that Aaron Chepenik (owner of Smoke Wagon) said in a video that the A & B barrels were only toasted and wasn’t sure if he was even offered to buy them. Chepenik went on to speculate that MGP probably wouldn’t have sold them because they couldn’t have been sold as “rye whiskey”. All that aside, provenance is interesting but what really matters is what’s inside the glass, so let’s see what this small batch is all about.
Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested about 15 minutes.
Distillery: Nevada H&C Distilling Co./ MGP Sourced.
Proof: 1116.2
Age:NAS.
Mash bill: 51% Rye/49% Malted Barley.
Batch#: 4, bottled October 21, 2022.
Price: $80.
Appearance: Golden copper.
Nose
Wow, this is impressive! There is a lot of rich caramel and maple syrup sweetness upfront mixed with herbal notes of cloves, ginger and a lot of peppermint joined by stone fruit notes of peaches. Underneath all that is rich malted cereal, rye bread and barrel char. The balance of sweet, herbal, malt and oak are incredible and unique. This smells like Christmas in a glass.
Palate
The mouthfeel is creamy and viscous. I wasn’t surprised given the body. Rich caramel, cloves, stone fruit and rye wash over the palate followed by herbal notes of cloves, peppermint and ginger with creamy malt. Allspice lights up the palate with a very good amount of oak that is well balanced. This is an incredible and delicious pour!
Finish
Allspice lingers all over the palate for what seems like forever. With that comes oak and some barrel char accompanied by caramel, clove, peppermint, stone fruit and a good helping of malt and rye hanging on for the whole ride. Tannins develop into a “woody” character to the end with no bitterness for a very long and satisfying finish.
Conclusion
From what I knew of the experimental 9 year rye I didn’t think this bottle would be a disappointment but you never know. As it turns out this is an incredible and unique expression that turned out to be one of my favorite ryes of the year. Nonetheless, I’ve discovered that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for malted rye. I can imagine that other distilleries are going to follow this trend, and we’ll be seeing more high malt ryes in the future.
Rating: 7.8/10
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.
