Good things are happening in Bend, Oregon. Brad Irwin of Oregon Spirit Distillers, known already for their diverse portfolio including C.W. Irwin Straight Bourbon, Wild Card Absinthe, and Merrylegs Genever, recently presented the latest addition to the family: Bottled in Bond J. Becher Straight American Rye Whiskey.
In September of 2016, Oregon Spirits Distillery celebrated the re-release of their J. Becher Straight American Rye Whiskey alongside the release of the newer Bottled-in-Bond version. We’ve touched on the term Bottled-in-Bond before, but in cased you missed it, here’s a very brief and quick refresher
Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., backed by the U.S. government, established standards for the largely unstandardized whiskey market in 1897, ensuring a certain level of quality to combat the rampant additions of coloring, sugar, and flavoring that dampened the market.
By today’s laws, a Bottled-in-Bond spirit must be compliant to the definitions of their spirit class, be from a single distillery during a single distilling season, be aged for four years under U.S. government supervision in bonded warehouses, be proofed to 100 proof (50% ABV), and contain absolutely no additives. If this piques your interest, you can read more about Bottled-in-Bond and Colonel E.H. Taylor’s act here and here.
In compliance, Irwin has taken his J. Becher Straight American Rye and followed the necessary requirements to earn the label of Bottled-in-Bond. After being aged in supervised warehouses for four years, Irwin bottles his 100% rye distillate at 100 proof, adding to his portfolio of bonded spirits that includes Bottled-in-Bond C.W. Irwin Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Tasting Notes: J. Becher Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey
Vital Stats: 100 proof (50% ABV); 100% rye; aged four years in new charred American oak barrels
Appearance: Examining the dram in a glass, the spirit is a very rich amber leading into heavy golden brown. Bright straw halos the dram. Legs form quickly after gently swirling, streaking thinly down the glass before swiftly dissipating.
Nose: Immediately after pouring, huge notes of sappy young oak push forward cushioned by a background of sweet, yellow-fleshed fruits: think yellow nectarines, peaches, and mangos. They’re very subtle, but definitely there. More fruit notes echo in the form of artificial banana and lemon. Letting the dram rest, the young wood notes give way to soft pine with an accent of allspice and a hint of clove.
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Taste: The first sip is sweet and full of warm maple and cinnamon. A few more lingering sips reveal flambéed bananas covered in caramelized brown sugar, accompanied by an array of spices one would throw into a custard for french toast: clove, allspice, a hint of nutmeg, etc. Digging deeper, baked apples and pears come out. The proof shows itself in its long and very warm finish. There’s heat, but it’s not unbearable.
Final Thoughts & Score:
Although the 100 proof bottling may be intimidating to the non-high-proof whiskey drinker, fear not: the spirit is warming, but not scalding. The high proof keeps some syrupy notes that appear with addition of water at bay.
This is a lovely, welcoming example of a rye whiskey that doesn’t overwhelm your palate with intense flavors. Everything is seamlessly balanced, making it approachable for the experienced whiskey enthusiast as well as the newer drinker.
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