By Kenrick Thurston-Wilcox
Ranking: A
Leopold Bros Three Chamber Rye
(Credit score: Leopold Bros)
Leopold Bros Three Chamber Rye is the fruits of analysis, persistence, and the thought to look to the previous to see what may very well be accomplished in a different way. That is an try and create one thing that has not been available on the market in virtually a century; to move folks again to a special time, when rye was king in America, not bourbon.
Does it ship? In a single phrase: sure. It’s fairly not like some other whiskey I’ve tried. To actually perceive this whiskey, one should additionally know the backstory, and the improvements that went into making it.
The guts of what makes the whiskey is within the title: the Three Chamber Nonetheless. It permits for a extra heavy bodied, oily, mouth filling and fragrant whiskey. The instance at Colorado’s Leopold Brothers can be the primary nonetheless of its variety to function in over fifty years, a real innovation for the business. Todd Leopold found the nonetheless kind whereas perusing outdated tax paperwork (as one does of their free time), and found that many Pennsylvania distillers have been utilizing this sort of nonetheless earlier than prohibition.
To make a very pre-Prohibition type whiskey, Leopold Bros additionally needed to look to the grain of the previous. Working with native farmers they introduced again an outdated pressure of rye, abruzzi. In comparison with fashionable grains abruzzi has much less starch, leading to extra taste. Leopold Bros are additionally one of many few American distillers who malt their very own barley, one other name again to pre-Prohibition days. That follow helps clarify why their liquors are sometimes thought of malt ahead. All of this work and preparation leads to a whiskey fairly not like some other available on the market. So how is it?
The Whiskey
The whiskey has a phenomenal, deep shade of amber. The nostril is lots to soak up; numerous peppercorn and warmth within the entrance (the whiskey is bottled at 100 proof), however supported by a phenomenal bouquet of lavender, cinnamon, and baking spice. The mash invoice is 80% rye, 20% malted barley, leading to some maltiness coming within the rear. Simply from the nostril you’ll be able to inform this a special beast, with a really deeply layered, advanced aroma.
The palate is simply as advanced and doesn’t disappoint. The preliminary response when sipping is numerous warmth and spice (you’ll be able to actually really feel that 100 proof), a warming sensation that fills and coats the within of your mouth in oil. Lavender is available in behind the spice, balanced with some candied orange, chamomile and bitter black tea. The end is lengthy and oily, courtesy of the nonetheless, with chamomile and black tea dominating the palate. This whiskey punches you within the face within the taste division and as such could also be somewhat overwhelming at first. When you alter although, it’s an especially pleasant expertise. A pair drops of water tame the spiciness on each the nostril and mouth, leaving room for the lavender and fruity notes to come back ahead and steadiness out with the peppercorn. Nonetheless numerous taste, but tempered simply sufficient to take pleasure in extra of the subtleties the whiskey has to supply.
As the primary whiskey of its kind in over 100 years, Leopold Bros has distilled historical past in a bottle.  I’m hopeful extra distillers be aware of this historic whiskey and possibly in ten years we’ll see extra of its kind, together with totally different variations. Although if you happen to’re in search of one thing that harkens again to easier occasions, look no additional.
The Value
Formally, this merchandise is $250 a bottle, and that isn’t too far faraway from what it instructions on the shop shelf. Retailers appear to be asking between $240 and $270.
