Liberty Pole Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye Whiskey Review
By Randall H. Borkus
Rating: B+
Liberty Pole Spirits is a family-owned and -operated craft distillery started in 2016 by Jim, Ellen, Rob and Kevin Hough. The Houghs are longtime residents of Washington County, Pennsylvania. They caught the distilling bug in the early 2000’s when Jim bought a 10-gallon still and learned the ropes of making distilled spirits as he contemplated retirement. After visiting various craft distilleries and developing his own respectable whiskey mash bills, Jim convinced Ellen that opening a craft whiskey distillery would a fun retirement endeavor. Rob and Kevin, both mechanical engineers, joined the family business. With Rob and Kevin running production, Ellen created craft cocktails and an incredible visitor experience, and Jim greeting customers and talking whiskey in the tasting room Liberty Pole Spirits became more than a dream. “Liberty Pole” is a registered trademark of Mingo Creek Craft Distillers, LLC.
The commercial distillery (as opposed to Jim Hough’s hobby) started with a 300-gallon still, expanded to a 600-gallon operation in 2019 and eventually moved to a new facility in 2023, where they tripled production.
The story behind the Liberty Pole started with members of the infamous Mingo Creek Society that would place liberty poles along the roadside and in town centers and then hang Alexander Hamilton’s portrait upside down to protest the 1791 federal excise tax on whiskey. Today, Liberty Pole Spirits continues the production of this rebellious spirit through their authentic Pennsylvania whiskey.
In authentic Monongahela Rye style, “Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye Whiskey” is made with a high rye mash bill, utilizing a sweet mash distilling process, and using a 108 barrel entry proof. This low barrel entry proof helps prevent the astringency that occurs in high barrel proof whiskeys while extracting delicious flavor notes that tempt the discerning whiskey palate.
The rye mash bill made with 74% rye, (a composite of 61% Pennsylvania grown rye and 13% malted rye) and 13% wheat and 13% malted barley which is distilled in a classic pot still in the Pennsylvania rye whiskey tradition. The spirit rests in 53-gallon barrels made from Appalachian oak from the West Virginia Great Barrel Company.
The distillery states, “our inaugural release of Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye Whiskey marks a milestone in our journey, showcasing a blend of six barrels ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 years old. Bottled at a proof of 108, mirroring its barrel entry proof [108], this expression captures the true essence of Monongahela Rye.”
The Whiskey
The whiskey’s appearance is a dark amber brown. The nose is full of sweet oak wood notes with hints of Caramel, Vanilla, crushed prunes, and baking spices. The taste is a full earthy Vanilla mash, sweet dates, cinnamon spice and more sweet oak notes dusted with a hint of mocha. It reminds me of a polish pudding from my childhood, “budyń waniliowy” which my mom and aunt Jean would make us when I was a kid. The finish is delightfully warming, medium long with more sweet oak wood, a touch of earthiness and cinnamon sprinkles.
I find this is a must have bottle on my bar, and I was able to have it delivered to my front door. I am going to have loads of fun with this expression when I host blind rye whiskey tastings with my colleagues.
The Price
Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye Whiskey is available at the distillery and available for shipping at $67 for a 750ml bottle.
