Raconteur Rye Batch 3 "Miz Kiss" American Rye Whiskey Review (2025)

 

Raconteur - [räkänˈtər] – noun. A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way

 

I don’t often talk about other whiskey reviewers; however, there is a small but growing trend among those who start their own whiskey brands. One of the more prevalent is David Jennings, a/k/a Rare Bird 101, who specializes in news and reviews of Wild Turkey. He’s also an accomplished author.

 

David has partnered with James Symons to create Raconteur Rye. It is now on Batch 3, called Miz Kiss.

 

“After two successful batches of Indiana distilled Raconteur Rye, it was time to change things up. Shortly after the release of Batch 1, we were alerted to a special lot of eight-year-old 95/5 rye whiskey distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky. Having tasted similar runs bottled by several esteemed producers over the past two years, we had high hopes. Not only were those hopes met, they were exceeded by an extraordinary profile showcasing caramel, sweet spice, and honey-drenched citrus. All that was needed to shape it into Raconteur Rye was a brief slumber in Mizunara oak casks.” – Raconteur Rye

 

The distiller is undisclosed; all we can tell from the above is that it is a Bardstown distillery. The only Bardstown, Kentucky, entity I am aware of that offers a 95/5 rye mashbill is Bardstown Bourbon Company. I’m not hanging my hat on BBC being the source; that’s my educated guess.

 

Bottled by Louisville’s WoodWork Collective, it carries an 8-year age statement, is packaged at 59.1% ABV (118.2°), and with only 637 750mL bottles available, its suggested price is $129.99.

 

Raconteur Rye gave me a sample of Miz Kiss in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and dive deep!

 

Appearance: I poured this Rye into my Glencairn glass and allowed it to sit for about 15 minutes before sipping it neat. The liquid was a definitive orange amber. A thin rim formed tightly spaced, thick, slow tears.

 

Nose: Before I could do anything but snap the photo, the aroma was enchanting, with lemons, orange peel, strawberries, rye spice, cinnamon, and drizzle icing. Taking the air through my lips, it offered vanilla and mint.    

 

Palate: The thin, oily mouthfeel introduced the front of my palate to flavors of mint, lemon chiffon pie, and caramel. I tasted chocolate, toffee, and honey on my mid palate. The back featured what I could swear was a root beer float and oak.

 

Finish: The root beer float sensation carried through the entire length of the finish. Oak, key lime pie, fresh-cracked black pepper, and rye spice were wafting in and out. The duration ran 2:48, making it very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Usually, I take statements such as we were alerted to a special lot to mean nothing better than market-speak. Yet, I can safely say that I’ve never had an American Rye that tasted like Miz Kiss. I experienced three complete desserts! It drank a dozen points below its stated proof, allowing me to hone in on individual flavors. It very much is a What’s this cost again? Who cares! whiskey that you need to get your hands on. KUDOS to David and James for picking something genuinely exceptional. Yes, you want a Bottle of 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 to do so responsibly.