Editor’s Note: We received a review sample of this whiskey from the brand. However, in accordance with our editorial policies, this has not influenced the outcome of our review in any way.
Overholt has long been an American whiskey brand with deep roots in Pennsylvania, even though it is produced in Kentucky today. Initially created in West Overton, Pennsylvania, and established in 1810 by its namesake, Abraham Overholt, not only did it become one of the first whiskeys to embrace bottled-in-bond, but it was also just one of a handful to survive Prohibition, securing a permit from the federal government to sell medicinal whiskey.
Overholt, changing ownership hands as time passed, came into the hands of the Jim Beam family of whiskey brands in 1987. A fateful decision was made to move production of it to Kentucky, keeping for a time only a loose association with its Pennsylvania roots.
Beam has been looking in recent years, however, to more firmly reestablish that connection, having partnered with West Overton Village & Museum just last year to recently open the new James B. Beam Pennsylvania Whiskey Heritage Center, a celebration of whiskey’s roots in Pennsylvania and its impact on the American Whiskey landscape and industry.
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What’s in the bottle
The whiskey being reviewed here, A. Overholt Straight Rye, is the next step in that reconnection to Overholt’s Pennsylvania back story. This expression is described as sporting a “Monongahela Mash,” seen as a Beam foray back to Overholt’s roots with a Pennsylvania Style-inspired classic rye. More specifically, it uses the same mash bill Overholt himself used in 1810 – 80% rye grain and 20% soft malted barley – being created in Kentucky under the eye of Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery at The James B. Beam Distilling Co.
“With over 200 years of exceptional craftmanship, Overholt is engrained in American history with its industrial roots and as a spirit that has set the industry standard since inception,” said Noe at the time of this whiskey’s release. “The newest launch of A. Overholt is the result of highly crafted whiskey, informed and inspired by generational expertise, and I’m honored to steward this brand forward while paying homage to its past and our shared commitment to American whiskey innovation.”
A. Overholt Straight Rye, non-chill filtered and bottled at 95 proof, is aged four years and priced at $39.99. It joins Old Overholt 4YO, Old Overholt 4YO Bottled in Bond, and Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength.
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