Bulleit 12 Year Rye (2019 Release)

It's 12 year old Bulleit Rye, (or MGP), it's the 95-5 bill, you would think this is the ultimate contender in the MGP 95 style rye, and you'ed probably be right. For me this is something of a deciding moment, I've been on the edge of the "pure rye" vs the high corn rye debate for some time, and it's a toughy. I like both for different reasons. First off, 12 year Bulleit rye is VERY good rye. The nose has a wonderful sweet rich purity to it, dill, caraway, pumpernickel whatever the "rye spice" is, it is certainly present in rich warm quantity. On the palate you get that hot spice bite that is trademark rye and while it's clearly strong it stays clean and pure. The extra barrel time yields an evident sweet wood note that is hardly or not at all noticeable in standard 3-6 year 95 ryes. Not quite a vanilla or caramel, it's more of a general sweetness. While it lacks some of the character and sweetness of the 3 grain ryes, that doesn't detract from the fact this is just some damn good and tasty rye. Being one of the priciest offerings in the line it at least lives up to some of that high expectation. What you won't get is an overly complex profile or any really unexpected notes, my assumption being that a 95-5 rye is simply incapable of undertaking some of the more serious barreling factors that create some of the more esoteric and elaborate notes in well aged bourbons. For all the extra aging this still tastes like 95-5 mgp rye. Thus the conundrum, is it really worth it to seek out and pay extra for a fairly acceptable and easy to find rye taste that's only marginally upgraded? That's for you to decide. Cheers!

Nose: oh boy, this is why I love rye. Eucalyptus, baking soda, pixie sticks, vanilla, dusty herbs, cotton candy, strawberry. A full nose if you take the time to look. Taste: cotton candy (including the finish it falls right off), citrus zest, herbal spice, ending with dirty earth. Experience: walking through a herb and citrus garden while sipping sweat tea. Sweet and earth notes mingle with a herbal undertone. Note: this is the classic Bulleit rye turned up. If you like the base offering you'll like this a bit more, if you don't like the base this will not change your mind. Let this open up or go back to it after opening and using the bottle, at first I was disappointed by how close to the standard rye it is, but after a week or so I found the complexity that the younger brother lacks.

*Rating is price relative Nose: Vanilla, rye, brown sugar, slight ethanol Palate: Vanilla, dried fruit, pie crust, toasted sugars Finish: Medium length with vanilla, sugar, heavy rye spice, and baking spice I'm finally reviewing this on the last pour of the bottle and my opinion has gotten progressively better through the bottle. This is a very nice rye for the price. It has a lot of depth in the flavor and a fair amount of complexity for its price range. However, I will say that this is a rye lover's rye. It does not border on bourbon and has some in your face rye spice. I am a rye lover, so it gets my vote. If you're a rye lover, give this a try at $50.

On the nose getting ginger, nutmeg, fresh cut lime, spun sugar, fennel, spearmint, and toffee. An unusual combination to say the least. On the palate, it opens with a generic kind of sugar cane sweetness followed by rye spice, nutmeg, ginger, a bit of vanilla, and prominent anise. White pepper, more anise, and lots of bitter oak on the finish which has has some pop to it and is medium in length. Mouthfeel is light and grainy. Despite being a little bit disjointed and chaotic, the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts. Enjoyable, but not a top choice at this price point. Glad I tried it, but at $54 it falls a little short of rebuy status for me.

What rye should be, all the time. Unfortunately, time is the big factor here. The initial smell from the glass is instant wood, and misleadingly sweet and reminiscent of a bourbon. First taste contact gives way to that sweet, marinated oak, but very easily (yet still quickly) moves into the very familiar Bulleit rye mash bill. Finally, one of the best budget ryes on the market has been properly amplified into the spicy, wooden finish that at least I am always on the hunt for with rye whiskeys. This is hard to put down, so forgive me, wallet.

Neat. Nose is fabulous. Tons of vanilla and stewed fruit. Bright fruit like apples and apricots. Some toasted marshmallow hiding Behind these high notes. Really delightful. Texture is light and a bit watery. Taste is delicious and matches the nose. Legs last a surprising amount of time. Damn it! Why couldn’t this be a higher proof. At 110, I bet this would rival Willet (MGP as well I know.) It’s really good but it could be unbelievably great with some more weight behind it.