Greenwood Rye Small Batch Whiskey Review

 

There are backstories, and then there is historical fact. I find the former fun, but I love learning about the latter.

 

Some of you may have heard about Black Wall Street, which was located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the turn of the 20^th century. Founded by African Americans in Tulsa’s Greenwood District, it flourished as a major economic powerhouse. It likely became the most affluent Black district in the United States.

 

That was, until May 30, 1921. That morning, Dick Rowland, a young African American man, went to use an elevator in the Drexel Building to access a segregated restroom. The female elevator operator panicked and claimed that Rowland sexually assaulted her. He was arrested the next day in front of the courthouse, with a crowd of white men demanding he be lynched and African American men trying to protect him. A riot broke out.  

 

The mob of armed white supremacists, many deputized by the local police, ravaged the Greenwood District by looting and torching every building – including homes, schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses. Nothing was left standing.

 

“On May 31, of 1921, I went to bed in my family’s home in Greenwood. The neighborhood I fell asleep in that night was rich, not just in terms of wealth, but in culture…and heritage. My family had a beautiful home. We had great neighbors. I had friends to play with. I felt safe. I had everything a child could need. I had a bright future.

I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams." – Viola Fletcher (age 107) testifying before Congress, May 2021

 

The official death toll was 36, which many historians believe is wildly inaccurate. There were over 10,000 people left homeless.

 

On June 1, B.A. Robertson, the state’s fourth governor, declared martial law and ordered the National Guard to step in. Thousands of African Americans were rounded up in the Tusla Convention Center and nearby fairgrounds. They were detained for days; the only way to be released from custody was if an employer or a white citizen would vouch for them.

 

Tulsans who were impacted by the rioting filed a lawsuit. Every single one of them lost except for one white man, who had guns stolen from his shop. No one has ever been identified as responsible, and no whites were ever arrested for their actions.

 

This riot has been deemed the worst racially motivated violence and domestic terrorism accounts in United States history, and many families are still working for reparations.

 

That brings us to 2018 when four friends (Che Bailey, Sheldon Johns Harris, James Roach, and Kweillan “KG” Gordon) got together and founded Greenwood Whiskey, meant to pay homage to Black Wall Street and the events that unfolded almost 100 years prior.

 

“We have been friends for a very long time and have been hanging out for the last 20 years. We have all done the corporate thing, and we got to a point where none of us were satisfied with doing our corporate gigs. I was just doing these things because it made sense financially and not anything that tugged at the heartstrings.

There is a misconception that Black people do not drink whiskey. We are a part of a cigar community, so we smoke cigars and drink whiskey. Every time the four of us got together, whiskey was always involved, so it made sense what to do.” – Kweillin KG Gordon, CEO and Co-Founder

 

Greenwood Whiskey’s portfolio currently consists of five whiskeys and today, we will explore its Small Batch Rye. Distilled in Indiana by MGP, it carries no age statement, which means it is at least four years old, and while the mashbill isn’t disclosed, MGP only makes two rye mashbills: 51% rye, 45% corn, 4% malt, and 95% rye, 5% malt, so it shouldn’t be challenging to determine which one Greenwood used.

 

Packaged at 42% ABV (84°), a 750mL has a suggested price of $32.99 and can be purchased from its online store or retailers in Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. It is also stocked at about 500 hotels, bars, restaurants, and cigar lounges nationwide.

 

Greenwood Whiskey was kind enough to provide a sample of its flagship Rye in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what this is all about!

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. The light topaz-colored liquid formed a thick rim with massive, crowded tears.

 

Nose: As I brought the glass under my nostrils and inhaled, notes of oak, rye spice, mint, and dill hit my olfactory sense. Drawing that air into my mouth exposed me to more oak.

 

Palate: Greenwood’s texture was dense. The slightest kiss of vanilla was quickly subdued by oak and mint on the front of my palate. The middle included rye spice and dill. The back featured bold cinnamon, black pepper, and tobacco.  

 

Finish: Mint, rye spice, cinnamon Red Hots, black pepper, and oak formed a very long, slightly warming, finish. I timed it at 2:04.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: So, which mashbill did Greenwood use? It has to be 95/5. It certainly did not taste like a barely legal American Rye. That being said, it was interesting that, despite its relatively low proof, plenty of classic Rye characters still existed to be enjoyed. At only $33.00, I believe Greenwood delivers a heck of a bargain that’s sure to please Rye newbies and connoisseurs alike. Without question, it takes 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.