There is a lot to like about Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey on paper — ies has been doing interesting work. At 50% abv and $59.00 Light honey with wide quick legs, let us see if it lives up to expectations.
Nose
changed. Scotch and Irish styles were the whiskies of choice. As for American spirits bourbon rebounded after the repeal of the 18th amendment, Rye never really recovered. Distilleries, including Washingtons, closed all along the American east coast. Rye whiskey was a novelty with too few drinkers. Through the 60s and into the late 80s clear liquors became the favorite and rye as a style was almost relegated to the history books itself; but a curious thing happened in 1995-2000, the cocktail revival. With a resurgence in classic cocktails and attention to crafting new ones, rye whiskey found purchase. The lean, spicy whiskey played well in mixed drinks, and began being the specific whiskey for many cocktails. I know for this reviewer rye is the only choice for my Manhattan. Today most of the rye whiskey is made by traditional bourbon distillers. There is some irony in that. Though as the rye whiskey market grows, and the cost of rye remains low, rye exclusive distilleries may make a comeback. Uncle Nearest is a Tennessee whiskey company, and Tennessee is a tough place to grow rye. Thus what Im reviewing here, Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey, is a sourced whiskey, as thats the case also for their uncut/unfiltered rye weve previously reviewed. As explained by the distillery on this choice, again given the challenges around growing rye in Tennessee, which is where Uncle Nearest is located, this whiskey originates in Canada according to the exact American specifications required to be a straight rye whiskey and is then aged in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, where it is then rested in used Uncle Nearest barrels for additional maturation. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey (image via Charles Steele/Whiskeyful) Tasting Notes: Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey Vital Stats: Uncle Nearest 100% Rye whiskey, no age statement, 50% abv. MSRP: $59.00 Appearance: Light honey with wide quick legs. Nose: First whiff brings forward notes of honeydew melon, oak, fall leaves, candied orange peal and nutmeg. Its a fun journey through very soft notes and some character depth. Overall, it almost felt like a rich chardonnay wine, dry and crisp with sweet fruit. Taste: This dried the mouth and left a semi-oily profile behind. The rye notes are here, with stone fruit and worn leather. The oak is a current that the rest of the flavors ride throughout this profile. As we transition into the finish, we start off with aged cigar tobacco that helps dry out the mouth. This has a wonderful finish, it just lasts. We get some crisp rye and char notes that remain on the tongue without going astringent or tannic.
Finish
I’ve previously reviewed Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered, their distillery exclusive. As an experiment, I tried them side-to-side after this review. I personally prefer this offering. I found the finish on this to be much better. This is a perfectly fine whiskey, and it is absolutely a cut above most things on the shelf. However, I found myself wanting more from this rye. More power with the rye spice to match this finish.rnrnIf you are a fan of Uncle Nearest, and if you arent you should be, this will be a fine addition to your bar cart. I believe this will blend up amazingly in cocktails, or a medium body cigar.
The Bottom Line
Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. At $59.00 Light honey with wide quick legs, the value is reasonable — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
