Rye
whiskey has been distilled in the United States since the 1700s, even before
this nation’s founding. One of the most famous distillers just happened to be
our first president, George
Washington. His began when his farm manager, James Anderson,
convinced Washington that whiskey made from a blend of corn and rye would be a
natural fit with his milling business. So, in 1797, construction started on a
22,500-square-foot facility – one of the largest in the new nation!
Unfortunately, in 1814, a fire decimated the distillery, which was the end.
Fast-forward
to 2017, when Karthik
Sudhir and Matt Witzeg joined forces to
create Phenomenal Spirits in Virginia Beach, Virginia. They started with Izalco Rum,
which sourced and blended rums from around Central America and aged them in
Bourbon barrels. Then, in 2020, RY3
Whiskey was born.
“The family of RY3 Whiskeys represent a masterclass in whiskey blending. Every bottle seamlessly combines 3 distinct whiskeys that are made up of 3 unique mash bills and aged for 3 different periods.
RY3 whiskeys are finished in vintage rum casks, solidifying them as a can’t-miss sipping experience. And the blend is only where the magic begins.” – Phenomenal Spirits
RY3
Whiskey’s mashbills and ages are undisclosed. Today, I’m exploring three
different cask-strength expressions: Toasted Barrel Finish,
Rum Cask Finish, and Cigar Series. Each was provided to me in exchange for my no-strings-attached,
honest review.
I
approached each the same way: I sipped them neat from my Glencairn glass. Now,
let’s #DrinkCurious and learn how these taste.
Up
first is the Toasted Barrel Finish. The hand-selected blend of American and
Canadian Rye whiskeys went through their normal aging and finished in toasted
barrels. Batch 007 weighs in at 59.6% ABV (119.2°), and a 750ml package has a
suggested price of $84.99.
Appearance: In the
glass, the liquid was a deep, dark amber. A medium rim released wide, slow
tears.
Nose: The
aroma consisted of delicate pastry, vanilla sugar cookies, cocoa powder, and
(surprise) toasted oak. As I inhaled through my lips, I found caramelized brown
sugar.
Palate: The
mouthfeel was thin and oily – almost slippery. I tasted brown sugar and toasted
oak on the front. Then, dark chocolate and marshmallow appeared at mid-palate.
The back offered rye spice and caramel.
Finish: I was
taken aback by how mild the finish was. Nutmeg, cocoa, and caramel remained,
with only a kiss of toasted oak.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: For a
whiskey that boasts an almost 120° content, the Toasted Barrel Edition drank
more like it was sub-100°. I found that nice, yet the palate lacked depth, and
then there was that short finish. It wasn’t a bad whiskey by any means, but I’d
also have a rough time spending $84.99 on it. You’ll want to try it at a Bar
before committing further.
◊◊◊◊◊
Next
up is the Rum Cask Finish. My sample is from Batch 007 and is packaged at an
impressive 61.6% ABV (123.2°). The
suggested price for a 750ml bottle is $79.99. Both Canadian and American Ryes
were involved in this blend, then went through a final finish in Phenomenal
Spirits’ bespoke rum casks.
Appearance: The
whiskey inside my glass was a golden amber. A microthin rim produced a medium
rim and released caterpillar-like tears.
Nose: Some
rum funk permeated my nostrils, followed by lemon and lime zest. The next is
hard to explain. If you had chewing gum (not bubble gum) that you’d been
working on for a while and was losing its flavor, that’s what I smelled. Spongecake
was also part of the aroma. It wasn’t until I drew the air through my lips that
I identified rye spice and nutmeg.
Palate: Here’s
where RY3 acted like whiskey. It began with brown sugar, molasses, and citrus
at the front, then became a cinnamon caramel bomb midway through. The back
featured black pepper, rye spice, and clove. The Rye’s texture was oily and
coated my entire mouth.
Finish: The
Energizer Bunny showed up because the finish just kept going and going and
going; I’m talking minutes-long here. Rye spice, clove, black pepper, oak, and rich
caramel remained.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The Rum
Cask Finish had the most unusual nose of any whiskey I can remember, and I was
absolutely not a fan at that point. But – and this is important – my experience
is when a whiskey has an unattractive nose, more often than not, it more than
makes up for it on the palate. This incarnation of RY3 followed that rule of
thumb. I loved the taste and finish and am happy to hand over my Bottle
rating.
◊◊◊◊◊
Last but not least is the Cigar Blend Series.
“Crafted for whiskey lovers and cigar aficionados, RY3 Whiskey Cigar Series is a timeless blend. A stunning fusion of Rum Cask, Madiera Cask, and Naranja Cask finished whiskeys, finished further with French Oak staves. Pair your favorite cigar with RY3 Cigar Series and make every moment one to celebrate.” – Phenomenal Spirits
My sample is 60.6% ABV (121.2°), and a 750ml
package is listed on RY3’s website for $124.99.
Appearance: This Rye’s
coloring was a definitive dark brown amber. A medium rim offered crooked,
medium tears that slid back to the pool.
Nose: Naranja
means orange in Spanish, which comes from a wine made from grapes and
orange peel. That much was evident when I nosed my glass. Vanilla cream,
apricot, raisin, and oak were easily found. Pulling the air into my mouth
allowed me to taste orange peel and molasses.
Palate: Unlike
the previous two whiskeys, the texture of the Cigar Series was thick and rich.
The front of my palate encountered orange and vanilla cream (think dreamsicle)
along with a cherry kiss. The middle kept the fruit going with apricots, plums,
and raisins. The back consisted of thick caramel, molasses, and rye spice.
Finish: Medium-to-long
in duration, the orange, caramel, and molasses notes dominated, with rye spice
and clove supporting them from underneath.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I don’t
indulge in cigars, so I can’t tell you how it would pair with one. However, I
can rate this whiskey. It was charming and flavorful, and these three finishes
came across as if made for one another. Is it expensive? Sure. Is it worth it?
I believe so and recommend picking up a Bottle.
Final Thoughts: Two of
the three earned Bottle ratings. If I was looking at all three on the shelf and
could only select one, the Cigar Series would come out on top, followed by the
Rum Cask. 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 to do so responsibly.
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