Today’s drink is Rossville Union, Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey, Bottle in Bond. This is a new one for us here at Talking Bourbon. There is not a lot of info on their website or the web in general about this whiskey. It is distilled and aged at MGP in Lawrence, Indiana, but their site also mentions it is distilled at “Historic Ross and Squibb.” From their page, “Distilled in the 1847 Ross & Squibb Distillery by masters of the craft, Rossville Union is bringing back the golden age of rye, perfecting the unique blends that all but disappeared during Prohibition.” So, not real clear.
We got this bottle for $60; it is 100 proof, aged 6 years, and comes in a pretty generic-looking corked bottle. They are no mash bill info on their site, but if other sites can be believed, it is 51% rye and 49% malted barley. We say if because we can’t remember ever having a rye or Bourbon with that much barley. We are not sure about the availability. We also could not find out what Master Crafted means.
Well, we like rye, who doesn’t, but not really sure about this barley thing. Only one way to find out, cheers.
NOSE
TB: Right off the cuff, you get the rye. Also, get strong scents of oak, vanilla, and caramel apple. Lessor aromas include barley, brown sugar, leather, and fruit. We split on the fruit, with one getting cherry, one getting pear, and one getting red apple. Besides a little more rye, the nose really doesn’t survive ice and gets muted.
TASTE
TB: Rye leads the way, and like the nose, sweet vanilla and caramel follow closely. Secondary flavors include oak, brown sugar, and a hint of apple. Good but not overly complex. Ice brought out more sweetness and a bit of spice.
FINISH
TB: Medium long with some sweetness and a lingering spiciness. Also, a slight touch of bitterness.
OVERALL
TB: The nose was average, but the flavor delivered on what the nose lacked. Nice finish as well. A decent buy for the price.
Nose 2.75 out of 5
Taste 8 out of 10
Finish 4 out of 5
Total score 14.75 out of 20 barrels.
Rossville Union BiB rye is a nice, definitely above-average rye. The cost won’t break the bank, and 100 proof is a good sweet spot. Not so hot that it needs watered down but hot enough to know you are drinking an alcoholic beverage. This juice also makes a very good old fashion. If you want to have a bottle that is not in everyone’s home and delivers on taste, this might be for you.
Final verdict: it looks like we found a keeper, I hope you can find it as well.