Whiskey Acres | Straight Rye Whiskey | Illinois | $45.00* | 87 proof | At least 2 years old | 75% rye & 25% corn

About the whiskey.

The estate whiskey is located in Dekalb, IL. The distillery is home to a farm ran by 5th generation farmers. The fine folks are planting the seeds, growing, harvesting, mashing, milling, fermenting, distilling, aging, and bottling grains that go into their whiskey. As farmers, the grains are essential. For this whiskey, they are using a very particular strain of rye known for having a vanilla note,” specifically the AC Hazlet varietal. They are also growing something like 20 different corn varietals to use in various releases. The distillery got up and running in 2014 with consultation from the late Dave Pickerell. They have never sourced and focus on quality.

Tasting notes.

An amber color that cools the nose as you smell. Before settling into buttery vanilla and a fresh cherry pipe tobacco with hints of brown sugar, the aroma of the grains pops. The creamy mouthfeel is sweet and earthy (the tobacco) with a lingering fruit (maybe the cherry tobacco) taste as the white pepper spice caps off the whiskey. It does leave your mouth a little dry after the finish.

The takeaway.

While the seed to glass story is fascinating for whiskey geeks, the average consumer won’t care. The whiskey has great flavors with some nuances. The great taste and the use of different grain varietals make this a whiskey that anyone can enjoy. If you can find it or happen to be in Illinois, pick up a bottle and let me know what you think.

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