Pinhook Ryed On Rye Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: C

Rye’d On represents a departure for Castle & Key. Most of the brand’s releases have been whiskeys sourced from MGP in Indiana, perhaps aged in Castle & Key’s unique Warehouse B, and typically part of a vertical series. An example is Pinhook Rye Time.

The new whiskey represents an entirely separate creature, as Rye’d On is an in-house creation. Made from a mash bill of 60% rye, 20% corn and 20% malted barley. A proportion of barley like that, “high barley,” makes that particular grain a full flavoring element in the distillate, rather than added merely to provide enzymes to convert starch to sugar (in which case, the proportion is usually 4 to 6%). This mash was distilled at Castle & Key, on their column still, and aged on site as well. It is stated to be three years old, and bottled at 97 proof. As is the case with all Pinhook releases, the name “Rye’d On” is derived from a thoroughbred race horse.

The Whiskey
A pour of this whiskey sits right on the line between gold and copper, which suggests some solid maturity, but the nose said something else. The scent is light, almost faint, and comes across much like snacking on cinnamon-dusted graham crackers at a picnic set in a field of freshly cut, wet hay. It’s pleasant enough, but there is enough “there” there to satisfy.

The palate is fuller, but only just. It’s lightly spicy, with mint and a single sprig of dill, a dried, chopped apricot, plus a sliver of wood. The finish was so faint as to be scarcely present.

My sample was large enough that I was able to revisit my notes at a later date, always a useful precaution because one often finds offbeat results are the outcome of the taster, not the tasted, being off. Such was not the case here, though: it’s a light-bodied and airy whiskey. It’s pleasant enough, but I’m on pretty solid footing that most whiskey fans like their drink to be at least a little chewy.

The Price
Rye’d On is fairly priced, though, at $38 a bottle.