Review #123 - Bulleit 95 Rye
Distilled at MGP (Midwest Grain Product), this rye sports a mashbill made up of 95% rye grain and 5% malted barley. Released in 2011, this whisky doesn't have an age statement, but is generally aged 4 to 7 years before bottling.
Bulleit 95 Rye
USA - Rye
Current Locally Available Price: USD 21 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 45% ABV
Details: Mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 8 months; bottles at 60% and 90% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: A little bit malty and a pretty good rye kick up front - nutmeg, anise, clove, and a hint of a chemical overtone. Like many ryes, this does have a slightly herbal element to it - we're getting a sort of eucalyptus, which mixes with that mild acetone note to create a sort of menthol smell. There are sweeter tones of caramel and creme brulee later on.
Palate: A medium-thin mouthfeel, just slightly oily but a little thin, really. More brown sugar and cinnamon sweetness on the palate, along with clove and candies, but there is still spice - mild black pepper, nutmeg, and mild oak come to mind. The herbal note from eucalyptus is back, but it transitions from menthol to agave, almost a cactus taste; all the while, it does taste slightly young and grainy in the background.
Finish: Medium length, with a bit of heat and a lot of spice lingering. Plenty of pepper and black licorice, some cardamom, turning into buttery brown sugar.
Final Note: This is okay - lots of young, menthol rye notes. If that's your thing, you might like this a little more, but it isn't really scratching the itch for us. Far from the worst we've tried, but we would probably relegate this to mixing whisky most of the time. Still, value is pretty good - this is very reasonably priced in our area at $21.
Our Average Rating: 4.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.78
