Traveling down a whisk(e)y side path, I happened to acquire a bottle of Not a King Organic Rye Whiskey from Journeyman Distillery. Apparently this bottle features a throwback rye mashbill that was popular in the George Washington era. Without digging deep for facts, I’m pretty sure this is an annual February release to coincide with the Pres Day holiday. Pouring a really nice orange-tinted color, the aroma from the glencairn is a youthful combo of rye bread, spices, and fruit notes. The palate is a heavy syrup of maraschino cherries and triaminic with some lingering pepper. While it delivers a decent rye spiciness and warmth, there’s not really any memorable qualities. I’d call it middle of the pack even though my bank of ryes to compare it to is admittedly thin. Had higher expectations. Rating: the 91 score from Distiller is super generous as I’d lean low 80s - worth a pour but probably not a bottle. Journeyman is commendable for using quality ingredients and is one of the main craft distilleries (along with Koval & Wigle) with a stable of organic spirits. In theory, I’d like to offer my continued support but the dilemma is paying $45-$50 for an entirely average product when I can get a higher quality bottle of High West Double Rye (and a bunch of other ryes I haven’t tried) for $10-$20 less. Tough call. Cheers Batch: 3 Bottle: 2327
Journeyman Distillery Federalist 12th Organic Rye
About this bottle
Named for the 12th essay in The Federalist Papers, this Journeyman whiskey refers to Alexander Hamilton's proposal that the government should collect taxes on alcohol. That notion was known as the “whiskey tax” and was passed in 1791 and almost immediately led to outrage. Journeyman produced this rye whiskey in the style they believe may have been imbibed by America's forefathers.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 11 parsed reviews.
Bought this at the source. Fantastic staff and facility at Journeyman. Neat from glencairn. Pours an orangey amber with wafting spice. Nose is hot pumpkin spice. Leather notes as pepper dances on your tongue. Comforting heat in the finish. A nice spicy sipper. Legs for days. Batch: 4 Bottle: 4225
Oak honey banana nose. Taste starts with sweet and spicy strength, banana overtones with some baking spice hints. Some oily/chemical taste present but not unpleasant. Long sweet woody finish with hints of banana.
sweet nose, caramel, slightly nutty, smells like a bourbon; has a faint "red hots" candy taste, sweet flavor, a little molasses.
The nose is caramel and spice. Great rye taste or spice and black pepper. Smooth finish my favorite of the Journeyman spirits
Renamed "not a king" now a staple sold with other journeyman products (not rare) . this whole page should be updated.
5 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
