Patel Bourbon: Straight Bourbon, Straight Ryes, and Straight Wheat Whiskey Reviews

 

Epicureanism is an ancient Greek philosophy that holds that the goal of human life is to live happily through friendship and hedonistic pleasures, while avoiding both physical and mental pain. It discourages fear, particularly regarding death. It is also the driving mission of Patel Bourbon.  

 

In 2021, Hemal Patel, longtime friend Joe Godfrey, and business partner Drew Davis joined forces, intending to produce whiskeys people would savor and discuss. Good whiskey wasn't good enough; the goal was to make whiskey memorable, and its first whiskeys hit store shelves in 2025.

 

"For our debut collection, our founder collaborated with the R.M. Rose Co. Distillery to meticulously hand-select each single-barrel, seeking only those of exceptional depth, character, and complexity. Patiently aged and bottled uncut and unfiltered-directly from the cask, each bottle preserves the spirit's authentic richness and integrity." – Patel Bourbon

 

Truth be told, I have never heard of R.M. Rose Co. Distillery. I did a tiny bit of research and discovered that it is located in Dillard, Georgia, and was founded in 1867 by Rufus Matthewson Rose. It is recognized as Georgia's oldest licensed distillery. It was shuttered during Prohibition and lay dormant until 2016, when Andy Sudderth revived it.

 

With all of that, there may be some confusion about what "collaborated" means. R.M. Rose Co. Distillery ages and bottles the whiskey; the labels on file with the TTB indicate that the distiller is MGP of Indiana. I do appreciate the complete transparency all around.

 

The marketing materials provided suggest that everything in Patel Bourbon's Bespoke Collection is cask-strength, single-barrel, and has spent a minimum of 8 years in oak. That being said, one of the samples sent to me says it is 7 years and 11 months on the label. We'll address that when the time comes.

 

Today, we'll explore all four entries of the Bespoke Collection: a Straight Bourbon, Straight Wheat Whiskey, and two Straight American Ryes; one with 51% and the other at 95% rye content. Please keep in mind that, as these are single-barrel whiskeys, the ages and proofs may vary. Each expression is available online from SB Wine & Spirits' website, and there is also a store finder on Patel Bourbon's website.  

 

That's where the other half of Epicurianism comes into play. Patel Bourbon donates a portion of each bottle's sale to The David Downie Foundation, which provides financial assistance to warriors battling cancer. Whether these whiskeys are good, bad, or ugly, I tip my hat to Patel Bourbon for doing so. To learn more about this fantastic charity, you can visit its website.

 

Now that I've shared all of this background information, it is time to #DrinkCurious. I do thank Patel Bourbon for providing me with samples of each whiskey in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Also, to avoid repetition, I've used a fresh Glencairn glass, sampled the individual whiskeys neat, and allowed about 15 minutes for each to rest before engaging with them.

 

Bespoke Straight Bourbon Whiskey

courtesy of Patel Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 8 years, 11 months
• Mashbill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 58.2% ABV (116.4°)
• Price per 750mL: $74.99
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Uncut

 

Appearance: The copper-colored liquid created a medium rim with fat, compact, fast tears.

 

Nose: The first thing I smelled was cinnamon. I also found leather, sweet tobacco, vanilla, orange zest, and charred oak. Drawing the air through my lips revealed bold orange zest.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was velvety and full-bodied. The front included caramel, brown sugar, and roasted almonds; it lacked any palate shock. The middle tasted of leather, sweet tobacco, and orange zest. Cinnamon, oak, and clove were on the back.

 

Finish: Cola, cinnamon, tobacco, dry oak, and roasted almonds stuck around. The cinnamon seemed glued to the tip of my tongue. Overall, it was a slow, rolling, level finish that seemed complementary. It didn't seem overly long; I timed it at 1:38, exceeding what my brain suggested.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I found Bespoke Straight Bourbon Whiskey to be almost a classic MGP 21% Bourbon. The deviation was, beyond citrus, a lack of fruitiness. It drank much closer to a 100° whiskey, making it an incredibly easy sipper. There's a lot to enjoy here from the nose to the finish, and for an almost 9-year-old Bourbon, it is reasonably priced. That's the recipe for a Bottle rating.    

 

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Bespoke Straight 51% Rye Whiskey

courtesy of Patel Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight American Rye
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 9 years, 1 month
• Mashbill: 51% rye, 45% corn, 4% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 64.8% ABV (129.6°)
• Price per 750mL: $74.99
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Uncut

 

Appearance: The whiskey was the color of aged leather. A medium rim jettisoned a wavy curtain of tears.

 

Nose: A perfume of floral rye smacked me in the face. Vanilla, plums, cherries, molasses, and muted oak followed. Inside my mouth, the air tasted of brown sugar.

 

Palate: The very oily, thinner texture allowed the whiskey to slide across my tongue and down my throat before I even knew what was happening. I didn't experience any palate shock. The front consisted of tobacco leaf, molasses, and tea. The mid-palate included black cherries, cinnamon, and leather. There were notes of ginger, rye spice, and oak on the back.

 

Finish: Ginger, cinnamon, and rye spices permeated the entirety of my tongue, while a blend of tea, molasses, and vanilla worked on the rest of my mouth. There wasn't much of what I could describe as burn; it was mostly a gentle finish. As the other flavors began to fade, the ginger spice ramped slightly, particularly on the front of my tongue. It lasted 2:38, which was very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Barely legal (meaning having only 51% of the majority grain) American Ryes are a ton of fun, because you never quite know what to expect. The mashbill's other components can offset spice notes. I've experienced the whole flavor spectrum with MGPs, so I was relatively clueless about what to expect.

 

While the alcohol content was coyish and the whiskey drank perhaps 15 points below its stated proof, the spice notes acted more like a Rye with far more of that grain in its mashbill. I found both of those qualities fascinating. This 51% Rye earns every bit of my Bottle rating.  

 

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Bespoke Straight 95% Rye Whiskey

courtesy of Patel Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight American Rye
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 9 years, 2 months
• Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 60.2% (120.4°)
• Price per 750mL: $74.99
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Uncut

 

Appearance: The topaz color seemed inviting. A thinner, jagged rim produced a sheer curtain of tears.

 

Nose: As I began nosing my glass, there were big fruit notes, mostly encompassing plums, cherries, and boysenberries. Yet, I also found vanilla, fresh rye bread, and molasses. Drawing the air through my lips, I discovered more molasses.

 

Palate: The soft, creamy mouthfeel gave way to a palate-shocking blast of spearmint. The second sip revealed spearmint, clove, and tobacco leaf on the front. Midway through, I tasted cola, cinnamon, and rye bread, while the back suggested ancient oak, black pepper, and a smidge of lemon peel.

 

Finish: The finish was a spice bomb, with a plethora of cinnamon, rye, black pepper, candied ginger, very dry oak, and the slightest of spearmint notes; however, it didn't ramp up, it was even-keeled. It was pretty warm, drinking perhaps 5 to 10 points above its stated proof. It didn't seem overly long; per my stopwatch, the duration lasted 1:32, just tripping over the line between medium and long venues.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: 95/5 Ryes are almost universally spicy, so the strong finish didn't take me by surprise. Fans of this popular mashbill will find Bespoke Straight 95% Rye Whiskey quite pleasing. Some MGP Ryes are dilly while others are minty. Obviously, this one leans to the latter.

 

While warming, Bespoke Straight 95% Rye Whiskey is well-balanced and is a lovely 9-year-old Rye. I don't know that I could describe it as memorable or unique, but it is tasty. For the price of admission, you're getting a solid pour; hence, my Bottle rating is deserved.   

 

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Bespoke Straight Wheat Whiskey

courtesy of Patel Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Wheat Whiskey
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 7 years, 11 months
• Mashbill: 95% wheat, 5% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 55.55% ABV (111.1°)
• Price per 750mL: $74.99
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Uncut

 

Appearance: This walnut-colored whiskey formed a thick rim with widely spaced, husky, slow tears.

 

Nose: The aroma suggested milk chocolate, cherry pie filling, strawberries, nutmeg, and custard. When I drew the air through my mouth, there was a sensation of milk chocolate.

 

Palate: Bespoke Straight Wheat Whiskey's texture was thin, light, and silky. There was an oaky palate shock. As I tried again, I discerned milk chocolate, mint, and toffee on the front of my palate. Next came vanilla cream, allspice, and ancient oak. Notes of black pepper, clove, and  

 

Finish: First and foremost, the finish was arid. It sucked the moisture from my mouth. There were notes of brown sugar, orange peel, vanilla, mint, clove, and black pepper. Ancient oak came in like the Kool-Aid Man, busting through a wall. The medium duration lasted 1:24.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I would like to point out that the label suggests 7 years and 11 months. I suppose it could be a misprint, as these are hand-labeled; however, I suspect that's not the case. At the same time, I won't fault Patel Bourbons for missing the 8-year mark by a month; it is just an interesting observation compared to its marketing material.

 

Also, distilled wheat is flavorless. What you taste comes mainly from the wood and terroir. The 5% malted barley isn't much, but it is the only part of the distillate that contributes flavor, making these super-concentrated wheat whiskeys a complete crapshoot. I'm serious; I run about 50/50 on them being good or rough.

Bespoke Straight Wheat Whiskey drank way above its stated proof. I usually appreciate drier finishes; however, in this case, it detracted from everything except the wood. It wasn't a bad whiskey; the quality is there, it just wasn't my jam. I believe that my Bar rating for Bespoke Straight Wheat Whiskey is fair.

 

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Final Thoughts: Were I to rate these whiskeys, they would be in the order in which they were reviewed: Bourbon, 51% Rye, 95% Rye, and finally, Wheat. I do believe Patel Bourbons (with the assistance of  R.M. Rose Co. Distillery) did a fine job of picking barrels. It piques my interest for future releases. 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.