Today’s tasting is the mysterious Silver Springs Sweet Rye. We say mysterious because there is almost no info on this bottle—no website, no history, just that it is made by Silver Springs Distillery in Tennessee. We had never heard of the stuff until one of us saw a display at a liquor store. It sounded good and was a decent price, so he bought one. There are rumors that it is sourced from Old Forester. And, low and behold, the mash bill matches one of Old Forester’s rye.
Speaking of the mash bill, it is 65% rye, 20% malted barley, and 15% corn. There is no age statement. It sells for around $48, is 111.78 proof, and comes in a short, squat, corked bottle. We don’t really know about the availability of this rye.
Traditionally, as a general rule, Bourbon has sweeter notes while rye is a bit on the spicey side. This is the 2nd or 3rd bottle in the last year that we have tried that seems to want to meld those tastes together. Let’s see if it works.
NOSE
TB: One can definitely smell the rye, which rises above everything else. That said, there are some nice aromas of caramel, vanilla, orange peel, wood, and maple syrup. Has some hints of orange, cherry, and black pepper as well. Ice brings out more sweetness, especially the caramel.
TASTE
TB: This rye will definitely warm you up drinking it neat. Besides the heat you get the sweetness, the rye, and some wood. Ice takes the edge off and opens up the taste buds to butterscotch, pepper, brown sugar, and a bit of fruitiness.
FINISH
TB: A strange finish that seems sweet and spicey but then changes to a slightly bitter aftertaste.
OVERALL
TB: Not bad, especially when you consider the price.
Nose 3.25 out of 5
Taste 6.25 out of 10
Finish 3.5 out of 5
Total score: 13 out of 20 barrels.
Seems the mysterious bottle turned out to be a decent pour, though not great nor overly complex. Is this the best rye under $50, not by any means, that goes to Michter’s, with a strong shout out to Bulliet and Knob Creek, but it is a good rye, especially if you like your drink to be a little on the sweet side. While we mentioned the lack of complexity, it does nail the sweet/spicey/bitter notes that you don’t find in a lot of bottles. We are anxious to try it in a cocktail.
Final verdict, if you can find it, buy a bottle of Silver Springs Sweet Rye.