Old Pepper Single Barrel Rye

Barrel 1363. Nose starts out musty and moves into toasted rye bread and a touch of pine. Decent legs in the glass. The palate hits strong with white pepper and it slowly grabs your whole mouth and holds on for quite a while, especially on the rim of your tongue. Their is a hint of licorice but the pepper completely dominates. I like this but it is monolithic. I let this sit with some ice for a few minutes as sometimes that helps bring out depth in whiskey. This did back off the pepper some and let some rye flavor come forward, but not enough to turn this into a sipper. This was a store pick and had been on the shelves for a while. I think that's why the price was so low ($32). Seems like I usually see these for the low to mid $40's. I think this is a 95% rye from MGP, not sute, though. I've definitely had better picks from Pepper, but can't complain. I think this bottle is destined for cocktails. As I get further in to this bottle, the pepper has eased and licorice and buttered rye toast are dominate. I'm liking this more and more. Pretty straight forward MGP 95% rye, but hits all the marks.

Haven't had a ton of experience with Pepper, but this A&B store pick was recommended as a nice bottle so I grabbed one. As with all single barrels they will vary so take this review with that in mind. Nose is traditonal peppery rye. Nothing too special. First sip is definitely spicey. Has that light rye flavor in the background and a ton of peppery bite. Follow up sips bring a bit of brown sugar on the tips. The finish is really the nicest part of this dram. After that overpowering pepper burns off there is a lingering fresh baked cinnamon muffin note that closes an otherwise middle of the pack pour. Overall this isn't a drain pour, but I wouldn't be beating down doors to find another. To me it's just another basic entry in the Rye category. Suggest you pass this one for something more interesting on the shelf.

This might be my new favorite rye! This Old Pepper Distillery Single Barrel Rye is a blend of MGP 95/5 and their own distillate, which spends 2yrs separately in new charred American oak, then they are married together and finished at their distillery in KY for nearly 2yrs in 24-month-air-dried toasted oak barrels and bottled at 110 proof. The result is a KILLER rye that drinks way below its proof and has a great balance of sweetness and spice. Starts off with some marshmallow, baking spices, burnt caramel (crème brûlée), and finishes with some oak spice, brown sugar, dark chocolate, and honey. Move over Michter's Toasted Barrel Rye, a new toasted barrel player is in town! I still can't believe I picked this up for only $40, definitely going to stock up on some more!

nose - big, bright citrus and pine forest aroma forward. follows with herbal and slightly medicinal with a soft buttery oak underneath palette - initial spice, and a viscous mouthfeel, follows with that big, bright minty/citrus/pine on the mid-palette. finishes a bit abruplty, with a slight oak. overall - the nosing follows through on the palette, and the robust pine and citrus experience is really nice. wasnt expecting the viscousity this has, and the only knock i have is on the finish, as it doesn’t leave you with much as it washes down. great rye pour nonetheless!

Tj’s Market Store Pick: Nose: Full with a touch of clove Pallet: Pepper spice that stays on the tongue and leaves a tingle that almost goes into your nostrils. Finish: There’s not a long linger and it does get a little sour at the very end. This is one of those store picks that they were looking for something with character and this has it. It’s full flavor and has a 110 proof spice but it’s not hot. A perfect pour to finish off the evening with and looking for sitting around a fall fire with this bottle.

Nose: This one is pepper all the way. You get hit with black pepper and cinnamon, but that gives way to apple under tones. Taste: This stays by their name. Once it hits your tongue, it's like you just took a pepper grinder to the mouth. There is some very subtle brown sugar and apple flavor. But this is very much a rye with a big hug at the end.