Rye whiskey has soared over the past decade. Despite being the most historic style of American whiskey, domestic liquor stores couldn’t give the stuff away as recently as the early 2010s. Back then, screw-capped expressions of the spirit would collect dust on shelves at $20 a bottle.
Today, bottles five times that cost are ripped from the rack the very moment they drop. Indeed, rye’s modern star turn as one of the country’s fastest growing categories is driven primarily by the explosion of super-premium selections.
No single lineup of liquids better encapsulates this reinvention than Old Overholt. It was established all the way back in 1810 by a Pennsylvania farmer-turned-legendary master distiller named Abraham Overholt. 214 years later, the label that bears his name exists as the world’s oldest continuously operated rye brand. For decades its spicy, non-chill-filtered flagship offering has been one of the best bargains in all of whiskey. You can still easily encounter it for under $20 a bottle.
Want the latest whiskey news, deals, and reviews? Sign up for the Whiskey Wednesday newsletter.
But in 2020, Old Overholt’s parent company, Beam Suntory, invested in a sizable makeover for the brand. It included new bottle designs and an upgrade in proof (and age statement) for the flagship, along with several premium expressions of note—which brings us to the latest addition to the portfolio: Extra Aged Cask Strength 11 Year. The newcomer might just be the best Old Overholt we’ve ever sipped.
It’s not a result arrived at by chance. This bold and assertive batch of savory ryes was plucked from some of Jim Beam’s most reliable barrel warehouses in Clermont, KY. By focusing on casks that dwelled near the cooler, danker bottom levels of those maturation facilities, the blenders were able to avoid an over-oaked flavor profile.
The result is a wondrously complex sipping spirit, sturdily bottled at 107.4 proof. Almost marmalade in hue, it noses with honey and caraway. Rich notes of vanilla and pipe tobacco compete for attention on the tongue. The finish retreats with a warming embrace of peppermint and clove; a recipe just right for the upcoming holiday season. Yet, it’s an absolute joy to drink at any time of year.
It may be the best Old Overholt ever. And at $100 a bottle, it’s almost certainly the most expensive. If it was ten years ago, that figure might have elicited sticker shock. In 2024, however, it can only read as bargain for a rare edition “extra aged” rye that’s been released just three times over the past four years. Gone are the days of this style of whiskey collecting dust. Proceed with an appropriate sense of urgency or you’ll be left in it.
Related: Put Your Calculator Away. Here's How Many Shots are in a Handle of Liquor
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/6GeIlvA
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment