Bulleit 20 Year Cask Strength Rye

MSRP: $299.99

Mash: 95% rye, 5% malted barley 

Proof: 137

Age: 20 years

Nose: the nose is very earthy, greeting you with chicory root, old barnwood oak, raw maple sap, a soft sweet mint, and vellichor 

Palate: whoa, this is an explosion of flavor. It stays living in the dark and earthy with more of the chicory and old oak, but it adds some sweet cola syrup, dried orange, black currant, and some leather and tobacco. The complexity is endless and never over oaked or too high of proof. 

Finish: beautifully long finish of leather, chicory, oak and vellichor 

Rating: Hoard it (Out of Hoard, Buy, Try, Pass)

Thoughts: This is, unfortunately, the best rye I've ever had. It's incredibly complex, and every sip brings something new to the table. Even at cask strength that is nearing hazmat, it drinks closer to 110 proof, which is remarkable considering the depth and intensity of the flavors. Somehow, it manages all of that without ever crossing into over-oaked territory. The nose is just as impressive as the pour itself. It's so prominent that even after the glass is empty, you're still getting all the same aromas. The texture is wonderfully oily, coating the glass and hanging on forever.

I honestly can't say enough good things about this whiskey. The only downside is the reality of the bottle hunt. With a release of just 1,776 bottles to commemorate America's 250th anniversary and secondary prices already hovering around $2,000, these aren't exactly sitting on shelves. I'll be doing everything I can to track down a full bottle, but if I'm being honest, I don't feel great about my chances.

What's the Deal?: Rye is America's original spirit. To celebrate that, Bulleit decided to drop an absolute monster rye for America's 250th birthday. The main call back to the founding of America is making this release only 1,776 bottles. This is the same recipe that is used for standard Bulleit rye, but dialed all the way up in age, proof, and the blender behind the bottle itself. Nicole Austin is steadily becoming a household name for whiskey nerds. As a master blender under the Diageo portfolio, she is the palate behind such releases as Blade & Bow 30 Year and the Stitzel Reserve 31 Year. Those releases pushed the limits of what high aged bourbon could achieve, while never crossing into being over-oaked. Having Nicole behind this Bulleit 20 year rye was clearly the best choice that Bulleit and Diageo could have made. It accomplishes all of the same incredible feats of it's older bourbon siblings. If you see this for $500 or less, and decide to pass, please think of your local internet bourbon friend and shoot me a message. I want a bottle of this so badly.

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