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Whiskey Review: Broken Barrel Heresy Kentucky Straight Rye

We review a rye whiskey from Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. that was aged traditionally, then finished with a mix of different staves added to the whiskey.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Tasting Notes

About:

Aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels, 52.5% ABV, mash bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley, SRP $35.99/ 750ml bottle.
Appearance:
In appearance, the Broken Barrel “Heresy” Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is a light golden yellow-orange.
Nose:
The aromatics in the glass are intense with strong citrus, roasted nut, and herbaceous notes. I detect notes of fresh grapefruit zest, Seville orange marmalade, and Earl Grey tea alongside aromas of hot asphalt, boiled peanuts, red cherries, and ivy. The interplay between the citrus, leafy aromas, and industrial aromas is appealing and complex. Of the entire Broken Barrel line up that I have tasted, this has my favorite combination of aromas.
Palate:
The whiskey is thin in the mouth with a moderate pepperiness. Its sweeter flavors are reminiscent of red watermelon, fresh cantaloupe, orange zest, and red apples. It also shows notes of old chewing gum and teaberries. On the finish, a cinnamon notes lingers alongside a gingery spice. I found the aromatics more appealing and complex than the flavors on the palate.
Finish:
Comments:
It brings a lot to the table as a mixer, and this is my preferred application over drinking neat. I was pretty skeptical of the finishing regiment mostly due to my experience with cheap wine flavored with wood chips, but it’s a surprisingly tasty and complex product for the money. Though aging with staves may help save money on cost, it is not a detriment to the finished whiskey. There’s nothing to suggest over-extraction or an inferior base whiskey. I suspect that this type of finishing will remain controversial. But if it continues to result in well made and appealing whiskeys, time and tastings will convert nay-sayers.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Suzanne Bayard

Suzanne Bayard struck out to the West Coast with her now husband almost a decade ago to explore the intersection of wine and policy in its world-class wine regions. She manages a Portland, OR bottle shop by day as the wine buyer and newsletter editor. She is also the Director of the Deep Roots Coalition, an organization of 30 Willamette Valley wineries that educate on and promote dry farming and sustainable practices. She joined the Whiskey Wash to explore two other passions: writing and whiskey.

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