Batch 1 of Wheel Horse Rye

I saw this on the shelf at my local liquor store (Top Ten) on sale for $25 and gave it a try. It is excellent, it is sweet and hot (101 proof). Per the whiskey’s web site:

Wheel Horse Rye is a sour mash whiskey, distilled and matured at O.Z. Tyler Distillery in Owensboro, KY. We us a 95% rye (5% malted barley) mash, and distill exclusively in copper stills. Maturation is done in 53-gallon, charred American oak barrels for a minimum of two years. Our barrels age in rick houses that have been on the property for up to 90 years. We do not chill-filter our whiskey. We do not adulterate our whiskey in any way.

My first reaction was that it was hot maple syrup. But further savoring has revealed more nuances: vanilla, caramel, and of course rye. It is sweet, but not too sweet. Served neat it burns your nose hairs when you take a deep whiff – got to love the 101 proof! So the sweetness is a nice balance to the heat.

This is an excellent value whiskey. For me it is too flavorful to mix – that would seem like a waste – I like it neat or over a big piece of ice, even my wife likes it neat. Give this new whiskey a try.