Style: Straight rye whiskey
Age: 7 years
Proof: 120.48 (60.24% ABV)
Region: Distilled in Indiana
Anyone who has spent much time in the whiskey community knows David Jennings. If not by name, they know his extensive work covering the Wild Turkey distillery with his site RareBird101. In collaboration with The WoodWork Collective, Jennings is back in the spotlight in a different role with Raconteur Rye.
The first bottling from this new brand is a combination of three unique Indiana distilled “95/5” rye whiskeys, each aged a minimum of seven years: straight rye whiskey aged in new charred oak, straight rye whiskey aged in a 48-month-cured toasted oak barrel, and straight rye whiskey finished in a second fill Mizunara oak cask that previously held 16-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon. In addition, the final blend spent a month in Mizunara to refine the marriage. Bottled uncut and unfiltered at 120.48 proof, Raconteur Rye claims to offer a genuine straight-from-the-barrel sipping experience. Let’s see how it stacks up.
Tasting notes
The nose on Raconteur Rye is surprisingly sweet and oaky. Orange zest, butterscotch and a light baking spice fill the bouquet — it’s warm, bright and inviting. On the palate, caramel, orange zest, clove and nutmeg continue the welcoming profile of this rye. There isn’t the over-the-top, peppery spice or strong notes of mint and dill that can sometimes overpower rye whiskies. The mouthfeel is very rich and leads to a pleasant finish that’s full of vanilla, caramel, with black pepper, clove and just a hint of mint to finish things out.
Final thoughts
Raconteur is an outstandingly balanced and satisfying whiskey. It’s well-aged and potent, but it’s still quite bright and zippy. It drinks easier than its proof point might imply and the viscosity is extremely pleasing. The broad flavor notes and aromas usually attributed to rye whiskeys are here, but they aren’t at the forefront.
I had a hard time discerning any flavors or aromas specific to the Mizunara casks used in finishing this whiskey, but I don’t think that matters. It’s just good whiskey. Jennings and the rest of the Raconteur team did a remarkable job selecting and blending the casks that went into this whiskey.
Orders open up May 10. Get your bottle here: https://raconteurrye.com/
