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Within the previous John Wayne western “Stagecoach,” a hard-drinking frontier doc performed by Thomas Mitchell (for which he received an Oscar as greatest supporting actor) grabs a bottle from a whiskey peddler, takes a wholesome pull and declares himself happy by yelling out “Rye!” I’m an previous film buff, and that scene helped cement rye in my thoughts because the whiskey of the Wild West – the place cornfields, presumably, had been uncommon however rye grass plentiful as a supply of grain to distill.
Bendistillery in Bend, Ore., shares a high-desert setting with most of the previous westerns I loved. And as with different arid locales, the Bend space has little or no corn however a good quantity of rye grass obtainable for distilling. It’s no shock, then, Bendistillery’s whiskies bottled beneath the Crater Lake Spirits label focus solely on rye.
I dwell in Oregon and are available throughout Crater Lake Straight Rye recurrently in bars or buddies’ private stashes, and can admit to being lukewarm on it for probably the most half. It’s a serviceable rye and inexpensive at lower than $30 a bottle, however I by no means thought it had the stuff to carry up subsequent to the whiskies I get pleasure from most within the class.
The Crater Lake Property Rye, nonetheless, is one thing I’d by no means earlier than tried. Whereas the Straight Rye is aged 24-30 months, the Property Rye receives a minimal of 5 years in oak barrels. (And in a warmer local weather than in Kentucky or Tennessee, which has the potential to amplify the growing old impact additional.)
So I don’t learn about taking lengthy pulls straights from the bottle or yelling out my satisfaction, however I used to be very a lot wanting ahead to opening this one.
Crater Lake Property Rye (picture by Scott Bernard Nelson/The Whiskey Wash)
Tasting Notes: Crater Lake Property Rye
Very important stats: Mash invoice of 100% estate-grown rye, aged no less than 5 years; 93 proof/46.5% alcohol; restricted annual launch; $54.95 for a 750ml bottle.
Look: Significantly darker than the Crater Lake Straight Rye, as befits the extra growing old. Darkish amber coloration, with legs that maintain up decently on the facet of the glass.
Nostril: The rye spice is secondary right here to the wooden notes. I get honey, brown sugar, apricots, and brazil nuts – however not numerous spice.
Palate: The ryegrass is rather more evident within the mouth than within the nostril, nevertheless it’s nonetheless delicate all issues thought of. Curiously, I style sweet corn, together with cinnamon, pecan pie, and what comes throughout as a mesquite-wood taste.
