Hunting Creek Straight Rye Whiskey - Review

The Details

Hunting Creek

Straight Rye Whiskey

Bottled-In-Bond

Aged a minimum of 4 Years

Distilled, Aged and Bottled by Southern Distilling Company

Statesville, North Carolina

50% Alc/Vol / 100 Proof

Mashbill: 51% Rye / 39% Corn / 10% Malted Barley

Price: $50

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Amber

Nose: Sweet Cream, Honey, Dark Fruits, Baking Spices, Sprig of Mint

Palate: Warm Flakey Pastry, Baking Spices, Creamy Caramel, Cherry and Plum

Finish: Medium Lingered Black and White Pepper Spice with an excellent viscosity

Overall: What can I say that I haven't already about Southern Distilling and their delicious offerings? This Hunting Creek is another fine release in an already fantastic portfolio. A true "bourbon drinker's rye" with plenty of sweetness on the nose and palate, but also a great deal of spice. If I were to recommend a Straight Rye Whiskey to a newer whiskey drinker that's curious about Rye, this would be towards the top of the list. Easy sipping and delicious flavors also provide a beautiful compliment to a medium to full-bodied cigar.

Directly from the Southern Distilling Press Release:

"North Carolina’s whiskey history is as long as the Catawba River, and Southern Distilling Company continues to reignite that rich tradition with the launch of Hunting Creek Straight Rye Whiskey, a bottled-in-bond release that commemorates a celebrated rye whiskey sold at the turn of the century. Southern Distilling Company founders Pete and Vienna Barger hope to introduce more whiskey lovers to North Carolina’s storied distilling legacy with Hunting Creek Straight Rye Whiskey, as it debuts this month.

“Since we founded Southern Distilling Company in 2013, our goal has always been to highlight the state’s long — and sometimes overlooked — history in whiskey making,” Pete said. “The original Celebrated Old Hunting Creek Rye Whiskey was shipped across our early nation using Statesville’s rail lines before being lost to Prohibition. We first distilled and barreled this product in 2018 and we’re thrilled to share it, and the story behind it, with whiskey lovers everywhere.”

In the late 1800s, hundreds of federally licensed farm distilleries surrounded the Statesville region and supported the major rectification companies that were shipping spirits out on the rail lines along the East coast. Prohibition hit Statesville early in 1903, shutting down a robust industry — but the spirit lived on. Inspired by the heritage, tradition, and ingenuity of Statesville, Southern Distilling Company obtained the Hunting Creek trademark and set out to restore another piece of local heritage."

As I mention to everyone that visits the Library, EVERY BOTTLE TELLS A STORY - and I'm proud to help share the history of this new release!

Check out what Southern Distilling has to offer and book a tour HERE

Library Rating: 8.3 / 10

10th Mountain Bourbon Whiskey - Review

The Details

10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company

Rocky Mountain Bourbon Whiskey

Aged 1 Year

Batch 62 / Bottled 12.27.22

Distilled and Bottled by 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company

Gypsum, Colorado

46% Alc/Vol / 92 Proof

Mashbill: 75% Corn / 21% Rye / 4% Barley

Price: $60

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Light Amber

Nose: Green Crisp Apple, Vanilla, Honey, Walnut

Palate: Flakey Pastry, Caramel, Vanilla Bean, Honeydew

Finish: Short to medium linger with a baking spiced finish

Overall: Okay, what stands out here as a Whiskey Enthusiast is the age statement. 1 Year. We all know time in a barrel plays such a vital role to pronounced flavors and the overall experience. But can a younger age stated bourbon taste good? The answer in this case, is YES. I always tend to study a label as soon as I see it and sometimes, I admit, it influences my initial reaction. This was also the case with the Jim Beam Hardin's Creek Col. Beam 2 Year Bourbon. That really helped me change my approach to younger whiskey. This 1 Year Rocky Mountain Bourbon Whiskey from Colorado is such a great example of a fine crafted whiskey that the distillers and tasters felt was ready to bring to market. I actually said "wow" as I finished my first sip. As most of you know, I tend to review whiskey first thing in the morning and in solitude, so for me to talk to myself is rare...depending on how crazy the night before was.

I immediately picked up those crisp green apple tones mixed with walnut and honey and of course, vanilla. The palate followed through quite nicely with the apple transitioning to a honeydew and some flakey pastry. The finish is where the youth showed up. But I can deal with a lighter finish when the nose and palate are delicious. And who says a light finish isn't still refreshing? Not I. The finish teeters on the light to medium scale for me. There are some delicious baking spices on the backend that round out the entire pour. While I can see myself sipping this on a normal basis, I'd personally love to see this exact mash and age finished in, say, something toasted. Not to mask any youth, but to raise the bar another notch. Just an idea.

"The patriotic men of the 10th brought diversity, courage, and hope to the Rocky Mountains when they arrived in the 1940s to train just a few miles south of what is now Vail.

They were part of the greatest generation of men, wanting to make each day count and each day better than the last. The mentality they had was strong after being shaped from the rigors of mountain warfare, their egos humble." - 10th Mountain Website - Click HERE for more.

I'd like to thank the folks at 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits Company for providing me this sample and for trusting my honest review. I can't wait to visit soon.

Library Rating: 7.6 / 10

15 Stars - First West Fine Aged Rye Whiskey - Review

The Details

15 Stars

First West - Fine Aged Rye

A Select Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys

Aged 6 Years (6, 7 & 8 Year Ryes)

Batch 001 / Bottle 2613

Distilled in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee

Bottled in Kentucky

52.5% Alc/Vol / 105 Proof

Mashbill: Various - Blended

Price: $89

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Amber

Nose: Dark Fruits, Baking Spices, Sprig of Mint

Palate: Light Dried Fruits, Black Tea, Chocolate, Mint and a touch of Leather & Tobacco

Finish: Medium to a Long Lingered Pepper Spice with a coating of Honey and Sweet Cream

Overall: "In 1795, America's 'First West' centered on Kentucky, the 15th State and the only state west of the Appalachian Mountains, as well as two US Territories around Kentucky known as the NW Territory and the SW Territory." - Bottle Label

I'm not surprised with how delicious this offering actually is. Coming on the heels of the Triple Cask and the Private Stock 7 & 15 Year Blend, this sets that bar another level higher. I tend to pick up quite a bit of mint on my palate when sipping certain Rye Whiskey. This is no exception. But add the delectable flavors and notes mentioned above and the combination works marvelously. A 91 Point rating from IWSL! But I still want to know what that 5th judge scored this one. Ha! This is quite special.

Thank you once again to the great folks at 15 Stars for providing this sample with no strings attached. The mail-calls have been quite impressive!

If you are interested in checking out 15 Stars, click HERE

Library Rating: 8.3 / 10