Tumblin' Dice Barrel Proof, Single Barrel Straight Rye Review

It wasn’t long ago when you’d mention MGP, and people would roll their eyes. They’d say things like, “Oh, gee, another MGP copycat whiskey. Yawn.” Then, one day, things changed on a dime. MGP was da bomb, and everyone wanted to get as much of it as possible.

 

You had people like Dave Schmier who never lost faith. In fact, he built his reputation by sourcing some of the best barrels MPG had to offer under his Redemption brand. After much success, he sold it to Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. He took his winnings, rolled the dice again, and in 2015, he started Proof and Wood Ventures.

 

Proof and Wood has since grown to include several brands. One of its most popular is Tumblin’ Dice, which has Dave doing what he does best: betting on winners from MGP (now Ross & Squibb) stocks.

 

His newest release from Tumblin’ Dice is a single-barrel, barrel-proof Straight Rye. His ante is a 7-year-old, 58.74% ABV (117.48°) whiskey distilled from the familiar 95% rye/5% malted barley mash. It is packaged in a 700ml bottle (which, incidentally, will become a more and more common size with American whiskeys) and retails in the neighborhood of $85.00.

 

I must thank Proof and Wood for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. No more wagers; let’s #DrinkCurious and see if we have a winner or not.

 

Appearance: This whiskey was a brilliant orange amber. A thick rim released a bunch of jagged tears glued to my Glencairn glass's wall.

 

Nose: I engaged with this whiskey neat. The most notable thing I smelled was orange citrus. I was taken aback because that’s not what I expect from a barrel-proof 95/5 Rye. The remainder of the aroma consisted of rich vanilla, brown sugar, toasted oak, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Drawing the air through my lips made me think of an orange dreamsicle.

 

Palate: An extremely oily texture that let the liquid flow across my tongue. I tasted orange peel, vanilla, and brown sugar at the front. Midway through, I encountered cinnamon spice, rye spice, and nutmeg. The back featured tobacco leaf, black pepper, and dry oak.

 

Finish: Tumblin’ Dice possessed one of those freight train finishes. It started off slow and built in intensity, then ran forever. Black pepper, cinnamon Red Hots, dry oak, and tobacco leaf were easily plucked.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Even after sipping this and several minutes into waiting for the finish to subside, I’m still enchanted with the bold orange notes. Neither the nose nor palate hinted at how potent this whiskey is. Only the finish reveals its true nature. I can’t think of anything wrong with this Rye; it highlights everything MGP did correctly. If you see this on the store shelf, go all in and grab the Bottle. You won’t regret it. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.