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Ampersand Vinea Review

Can a blend of rye whiskey and neutral grain spirit aged in XO Cognac casks actually deliver balance and complexity? Ampersand Vinea's answer may surprise you.

OVERALL RATING

8
$65
  • Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS) has unveiled Ampersand, a collection of three small-batch spirits created by master distiller Chip Tate. The line represents Tate’s first release since joining FFWS as Master Distiller for Innovation in January 2024.

The portfolio includes Ampersand Malus ($59), blending 51% American rye whiskey with 49% Calvados; Ampersand Vinea ($59), combining 75% American rye whiskey with 25% grain spirit aged in XO Cognac casks; and Ampersand Opimus ($150), featuring 15-year-old Kentucky bourbon finished in Tokaji barrels.

Vinea blends eight-year-old rye whiskey with nine-plus-year-old grain spirit made from 100% corn aged in XO Cognac casks. The 92-proof spirit yielded 8,500 bottles. Vinea received a Platinum Award at the 2025 TAG Global Spirits Awards. Opimus earned Best in Show and 97 points at the 2025 Global Whisky Challenge, North America.

Tate founded Texas-based Balcones Distilling and was twice named Whisky Icon. He revealed plans for future projects, stating: “We’re just getting started, as I am also spending time in Mexico working on developing new distillation techniques for my agave projects.”
Appearance:
Tawny and clear, with thin fast legs which do not linger. This was tasted neat in a Glencairn after 5 minutes of resting.
Nose:
Ruby red grapes, floral notes, banana, strawberries and lemon grass with just a hint of pine. The nose on this is surprisingly sweet in an excellent way but overall lovely.
Palate:
The body is medium to dry with a medium to full-bodied profile.

I found notes of new leather, nuttiness, and a little red wine. There was some mild grass but difficult to pinpoint. Overall there is this cognac presence which has nice dark fruits and floral notes.
Finish:
It has a good medium length finish. Buttery mouthfeel of rye/grass notes on the back end, good woody finish.
Comments:
Easy to sip on and surprisingly balanced given the neutral grain spirits that were used. I really foresaw this coming in with some astringent notes but was surprised that it was balanced and even across the profile. I found this to be a nice blend with good balance but not overly complex to be honest. There are a few moments where the neutral grain shows up and can interfere with the profile as a whole. The rye, on the other hand, is very complimentary and fun!

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.

Charles Steele

Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.

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