Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review: A Unique Cask Strength Experience

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Middle West Spirits
• MASH BILL: 80% Pumpernickel Rye | 20% Mix of Wheat, Barley and Corn
• AGE: 5 years
• YEAR: 2024
• PROOF: 125.3 (62.65 ABV)
• MSRP: $69.99
• BUY ONLINE: Middle West Spirits Online Shop

STEVE’S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any lovers of bold and spicy American whiskies, especially drinkers who appreciate well-made cask strength options from craft distilleries.

WORTH THE PRICE: Definitely. A fair price for a rock-solid, super-flavorful and innovative whiskey.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle all day long, get a pour if you see it at a bar and buy someone else a pour, too, because they deserve to be amazed by this.

OVERALL: The pumpernickel rye shines with aromas of dark maple syrup, chocolate malt, dried fig, cherry pipe tobacco, double oak (though it’s not), fennel and, call me crazy, a whiff of garam masala.

On the palate, burnt orange, orange peel, Demerara sugar, dried cherry, dark rye bread, bitter chocolate, a little wood smoke and pleasant oak. The finish is fruity, tangy and spicy, which all but commands you to make an old fashioned with it.

According to Middle West, this is the first dark pumpernickel rye whiskey made in North America, and its mash bill contains 80 percent of that grain. Want a rye that’s not a dill Katz’s Deli pickle? Try this.

Since there’s only 20 percent of the mash remaining to be divvied up between corn, soft red winter wheat and two-row barley, I’m impressed that such a small amount of grains balances out such a front loading of rye. It’s yet another pleasant surprise delivered by this amazing whiskey, and as you’ll read in forthcoming reviews about the rest of this Cask Strength Whiskey series, it’s one of many surprises in Middle West’s lineup. Keep your eye on this distillery, folks. Amazing things are happening there.

BRAND NOTES

TASTING NOTES

Our Straight Rye Whiskey is 80% Dark Pumpernickel Rye. This rare grain lends a softer spiciness than the rye most commonly used in rye whiskey. It is also balanced with Non-GMO Yellow Corn, Soft Red Winter Wheat, and Two-row Barley for a unique 4-grain rye whiskey experience.

• NOSE: Brioche, vanilla, cinnamon and aged leather.
• PALATE: Subtly sweet and medium-bodied, with notes of dried cherry and nutmeg.
• FINISH: Dark fruits, toasted caramel and oak.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.