A Colorado distillery has created what it claims is the market’s first rye whiskey containing heirloom blue corn, expanding beyond its bourbon roots with a limited release of fewer than 1,400 cases.
Smokeye Hill Rye Features Unique Four-Grain Recipe
The new Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey combines rye, blue corn, yellow corn, and malted barley in its mashbill. The whiskey undergoes initial distillation in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, before aging for five years in Colorado Springs at 6,100 feet elevation.
The company uses 30-gallon American white oak barrels with varying char levels to mature the spirit. Colorado’s temperature extremes accelerate aging as barrels expand and contract between hot summers and cold winters.
Official tasting notes describe butterscotch and honey on the nose, with a full-bodied palate featuring caramel, cinnamon, and dried apricot. The finish presents honeyed oak and black tea characteristics.
“Our Barrel Proof Rye spends five years aging to develop depth and complexity, before a percentage of our flagship bourbon is blended in, ensuring that the signature Smokeye Hill profile shines through,” says founder Blake Johns. “This rye, like our bourbons, is about creating something fresh and distinct, while honoring the craftsmanship and character of Smokeye Hill’s Southwestern heritage.”
Southwest Heritage Shapes Smokeye Hill Rye Production
The Arizona-based brand incorporates blue corn across its product line, reflecting regional culinary traditions. The company name originates from a hill on the Johns family ranch where moonshine production occurred during Prohibition.
The bottle design includes a bell shape, inspired by local law enforcement’s practice of tying bells to cattle as raid warnings during the Prohibition era.
Proof levels for the barrel-proof expression range from 131.2 to 131.7, varying by batch. The whiskey carries a suggested retail price of $89.99 and will reach stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, Washington and Texas starting October 2025.
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Online distribution includes Seelbachs, Spirits Network, and Keg N Bottle.
The brand previously earned recognition for its bourbon, including 2024 ASCOT Bourbon of the Year and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
