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Whiskey Review: Wigle Port Rye Whiskey

We review Wigle Port Rye Whiskey, aged for a minimum of 22 months in small (25-gallon) new charred oak casks, then finished for at least 18 months in tawny and ruby port barrels.

OVERALL RATING

8
$85.00
  • Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer.
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Wigle Port Rye Whiskey

Tasting Notes

About:

Mash bill of 68% rye, 17% wheat and 15% two-row malted barley; aged for a minimum of 22 months in small (25-gallon) new charred oak casks, then finished for at least 18 months in tawny and ruby port barrels; 46% alcohol by volume/92 proof; $85 for a 750ml bottle.
Appearance:
The aging in new charred oak is apparent from the first pour. This is a brown, dark, moody rye.
Nose:
The sweetness hits you immediately. If I were to take a whiff blindfolded, I might not even guess it’s whiskey. It smells like port wine through and through.
Palate:
The good news is that it doesn’t taste like port wine; it tastes like rye whiskey. There is still sweetness, but it’s far mellower than the nose would lead you to believe. You’ll taste rye grass, but there are also hints of pumpkin pie spice, black cherries and nutmeg cake. The finish is semi-long, lingering with a dollop of honey.
Finish:
Comments:
I’m a bit of a whiskey purist, and often don’t fall in love with attempts to sweeten my spirits. The smell of this one led me to believe I wasn’t going to be a fan. My nose, though, misled me. This is solid Monongahela rye. At the moment, it’s only distributed in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. It’s a shame you can’t find it more widely, because this is an interesting – and, I’ll admit it, opulent – whiskey.

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.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

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