Redemption Straight Rye

Redemption Rye is yet another bottling of the 95% rye mash bill whiskey from MGP. Same as Bulliet, Dickel, and Templeton. And a few others I imagine that I don’t know yet. But while Bulliet and Dickel are solid ryes for the price point, Redemption leaves something to be desired. This whiskey is bottled at 46% ABV and is aged “not less than one year” in new charred oak barrels. Some write ups (including Distiller) have mentioned aging up to two and-a-half years. However, nowhere on the label does it claim to be “straight rye whiskey”, so I have my doubts. It may be a blend of barrels less than two years with a bit of slightly older stuff but in any case, this is a young whiskey and it shows. In the glass it’s a medium gold color, the first indication of its young age. Swirling leaves an oily coating but just a few slow legs. The nose is young grain whiskey, mild rye spice, a slight burn, and little else. There is a hint of fruitiness if you are patient enough to let it set a few. The palate is dry, minty, spicy oak. Little to no sweetness. The finish was actually unpleasant to me: just astringent, bitter oak tannins and an alcohol bite. This is not a good whiskey to sip neat. It does make a decent Manhattan; it’s dry, spicy character works well with the vermouth. This bottle was $24 locally. Not expensive, but considering the aforementioned Bulliet and Dickel can be had for the same or less, I will not bother with another one of these. 2.5/5. Cheers!

Meh....it’s just ok. Grab some wilderness trail rye instead.

Sorry I forget to write a review on this one. I picked up a bottle of this about a month ago. It’s a very full flavored rye that is an easy drinker. I do think it is my new favorite rye (sorry Bullet)

My first foray into an MGP 95/5 rye. Nose has some interesting elements; some floral notes (lilies maybe?), and remember those orange slice jelly candies with the sugar on them? Lots of that. Light toffee note underneath. Palate opens with some brown sugar and nutmeg, but quickly switches to mint/eucalyptus mid way through. The finish is where this really excels. It’s a blend of nearly every kind of spice you can think of; black pepper, chilies, candied ginger, clove, spicy wood/barrel notes, and mustard seed. The only type of heat not in the finish is ethanol, which is gloriously absent. That spicy finish lingers for quite some time. Mouthfeel is nothing special, but does not detract. I would be remiss if I didn’t make mention of the fact that I have read other reviews on this whiskey and the results have been...not good. Lots of complaints of plastic and other off flavors, of which I got none. I don’t know what some of these reviewers tasted; it’s almost like they are drinking a completely different whiskey. Maybe I just got a good batch. Criminally underrated. Is it top notch? No. But is it solid for $27? Hell yes. Looking forward to trying more 95% ryes.