Tumblin' Dice 2023 Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

Dave Schmier never lost sight of MGP, even when so many naysayers rolled their eyes when yet another MGP-sourced whiskey hit the market. Dave built his reputation by sourcing some of the best barrels MPG offered 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.

 

Today, Proof and Wood has 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 and Squibb) stocks.

 

His newest release from Tumblin’ Dice is a single-barrel, barrel-proof Straight Rye. He did this last year with a 7-year-old, 58.74% ABV (117.48°) whiskey distilled from the familiar 95% rye/5% malted barley mash, with a suggested price of $85.00 for a 700ml package.

 

“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.”

 

For 2023, Dave doubled down and added another year to that age statement, and for those of you who, like me, aren’t math geniuses, that means it is now an 8-year whiskey. The mashbill remains the same; now it weighs slightly less at 58.1% ABV (116.2°). The extra year will cost an additional $5.00 ($90.00) for the 700ml.

 

The good news is that because I still have my bottle of the 2022 release, they can both sit at the table and see which has the better dice roll.

 

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 he wins another hand.

 

Appearance: I sipped this Rye neat from my Glencairn glass. The liquid inside looked deep and dark, resembling burnt umber. A very thick rim produced straight, slow, thin legs.

 

Nose: Rich caramel mingled with cinnamon sticks to form an inviting aroma. Strange as it sounds, it smelled creamy. Additionally, I found ripe, red fruits, toasted oak, maple syrup, and a faint, floral quality. Drawing the air through my lips revealed cherry vanilla.

 

Palate: The texture was thin and exceptionally oily. Notably missing was the heat you’d expect from a whiskey of this proof. The front of my palate encountered cinnamon spice, barrel char, and brown sugar, while the middle tasted of nutmeg, shredded tobacco, and cocoa powder. The back consisted of leather, black pepper, and clove.

 

Finish: Holding its cards close to the vest, coffee emerged from nowhere. Cinnamon, tobacco, brown sugar, clove, and charred oak anted up. Before everything was said and done, cherry offered a last-second bet. Overall, the duration lasted what seemed to be several minutes while leaving my lips and tongue warm and dry.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Before I get to my rating, I promised to compare the two vintages. Here we go:

 

Nose:  The aromas of each were worlds apart. Last year’s had big citrus notes, something unexpected from a 95/5 Rye. This year’s was more like a Bourbon than a Rye. If you blindfolded me, I’d guess it was barely legal. I love that both threw me for a loop. Verdict: Draw

 

Palate: I didn’t get the sweeter notes that the 2022 Rye possessed. The 2023 was a spice bomb from the start. It reminded me of what a Rye is supposed to be. Verdict: Slightly to the 2023

 

Finish: The finish from the 2022 whiskey seemed to last forever. But, it lacked the depth that 2023 offered. All things being equal, I’ll usually lean toward a finish’s complexity over length. Verdict: 2023

 

The 2023 came out ahead on two of the three rolls. This incarnation of Tumblin’ Dice Single Barrel, Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey is worth placing your bet on; it is a sure thing and wins my Bottle rating. 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.