Company: OKI Spirits (Used to be owned by New Riff Distilling)
Distillery: OKI Distillery
Distilled In: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Region: Bardstown, Kentucky
Aging: 6 Years
ABV: 58.9% ABV
Proof: 117.8 Proof
Barrel No: 137
Bottle No: 57 of 214
Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $80
OKI Single Barrel Bourbon Tasting Notes
Appearance: Amber
Nose: Sweet Caramel, buttery brown sugar, rich vanilla, toasted oak, light fruits, apricot, citrus zest, cinnamon, baking spice, rye spice, chocolate
Palate: Caramel, rye spice, rye grain, vanilla, oak, cereal, black pepper, citrus
Finish: Medium finish with a bit of heat – leaves you with pepper and rye spice with a caramel sweetness
OKI and New Riff Distillery History
New Riff Distillery used to own OKI Spirits which gave them their start using an MGP-sourced whiskey until they were able to produce their own 4-year whiskey.
Once New Riff was old enough to produce their own 4-year whiskey, they were finishing out their O.K.I. bourbon and OKI was sold to two Cincinnati entrepreneurs named Chad Brizendine and Jake Warm in 2020.
Jake Warm’s family has been in the bourbon business for years and said that his great-grandfather built the Seagram’s warehouse at the Lawrenceburg distillery in the 1930s.
He was also an early investor in George Remus Bourbon which I believe was acquired or purchased by MGP in 2016.
New Riff is one of my favorite distilleries and I’m excited to give this bottle a try.
Is OKI Single Barrel Bourbon an Approachable Whiskey?
OKI single-barrel bourbon is a heavy-hitter.
The nose is a bit deceiving because it smells completely sweet and full of easy and light flavors.
Once the whiskey hits your palate, the high-rye spice really shines through which gives the impression of a “hot” whiskey.
But the whiskey is quite smooth and the spicy rye and pepper notes are quite enjoyable.
You can taste a bit of the rye grain as well and it finishes out with a mouthfeel that really sticks around and reminds you that your taste buds have been awakened.
Is OKI Single Barrel Bourbon Complex?
OKI Single Barrel Bourbon has quite a few layers of flavor.
The 60% Corn still allows the rich caramel sweetness to shine through, especially on the nose.
But once the whiskey hits your palate, the rye spice really takes over in an excellent way.
I can see the similarities between this and my favorite Rye Whiskey – New Riff Single Barrel Rye.
Since OKI used to be owned by New Riff Distillery until New Riff was old enough to have its own 4-year Rye, it’s no surprise that this bottle is one excellent high-rye bourbon whiskey.
What are OKI Single Barrel Bourbon’s strongest attributes/flavors?
OKI single barrel bourbon’s strongest attribute is its lovely rye-forward flavor profile.
Many rye whiskeys are way too hot on the palate and the heat almost drowns out the rye spice notes.
OKI brings you an extremely well-balanced experience with beautiful rye spice, caramel sweetness, and a nice smooth finish that leaves all of your taste buds tingling with delight.
Is OKI Single Barrel Bourbon a go-to whiskey?
OKI single barrel bourbon is not available in my hometown in Pennsylvania so I have to travel to Ohio to find it, but if I could get this bottle more regularly, it would absolutely be whiskey I would recommend as a go-to whiskey if you can afford it.
Is OKI Single Barrel Bourbon priced accurately to its quality?
OKI Single Barrel Bourbon costs $80 which is a bit high for a bourbon.
This bottle is right on the line of delivering on its quality, but I do think it delivers.
The flavors and balance of this whiskey are really special and it is one of the more enjoyable rye whiskeys I have tasted
Conclusion for OKI Single Barrel Bourbon
OKI Single Barrel Bourbon is an excellent whiskey.
It’s full of flavor and offers a balance that hardly any rye whiskeys offer.
While it is a bit on the pricey side, I’m quite happy with my purchase of this bottle and I would purchase another one when I finish this one.
If you see this whiskey on the shelf in your area, I recommend buying yourself a bottle.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
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