Company: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
Distillery: Peerless Distillery
Region: Louisville, Kentucky
Aging: 4 Years
ABV: 55.2%
Proof: 110.4
Mash Bill: Undisclosed
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $120
Appearance: Dark Amber
Peerless Single Barrel Rye Tasting Notes
Nose: Rich caramel, bold oak, vanilla, brown sugar, dark fruits, cherries, clove, anise seed
Palate: Heavy toasted oak, buttery caramel, vanilla, lovely rye spice, black pepper, dark fruits, cherry, clove, and earthy tobacco
Finish: Big, heavy, and buttery mouthfeel that leaves you with a nice oak, caramel, and dark fruit finish that twists into a lingering rye spice and black pepper spice
Peerless Distillery Tour and Tasting
I picked up this 2023 distiller’s selection bottle directly from the distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
I went on a trip with my dad for my birthday and Peerless is a distillery I made sure to visit.
Peerless Rye is one of my favorite whiskeys so I wanted to see what went into their whiskey and learn more about the company.
When my dad and I arrived, the distillery was right in the downtown Louisville area which was great because we could just walk right in after exploring the town.
We were greeted with a smile and a friendly face the moment we walked in and were escorted shortly after to start our distillery tour where we learned of the distillery’s history and how it was shut down in 1917 and was re-opened by Corky Taylor and his son in 2014.
They even got the same distillery number as the old distillery DSP-KY-50 which is on every bottle.
We were shown through their entire distilling process, got to watch the barrels filled with whiskey via a hose that looked like a gas pump, and saw where the bottles were stored for aging.
As we were finishing up the tour and moving through the barrels to head over toward our tasting, Corky Taylor (the owner) just stopped into our tour and spent some time with us.
It was really great to meet him and he told us stories about him being roommates with the Allman Brothers and what life was like for him starting out the distillery.
He seemed to have a great time talking with my dad about his favorite football players since he saw I was wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers hat.
Once in the room for our tasting, we got pours of a variety of Peerless whiskeys including their Peerless bourbon, this single barrel rye, as well as a Peerless Rye finished in Absinthe Barrels which was quite the wild whiskey.
I enjoyed this bottle so much that I decided to buy myself one and bring it home to review for all of you.
With all single-barrel whiskeys, the flavors vary from bottle to bottle, but this review should be a pretty good representation of what you will find if you find your own single-barrel bottle of Peerless Rye on the shelf.
So let’s get into the review.
Is Peerless Single Barrel Rye an Approachable Whiskey?
Peerless has a relatively high ABV coming in at 55.2% but it doesn’t have nearly as much heat as you would expect.
That being said, it’s probably a whiskey I would reserve for your more experienced whiskey friends and give the beginners the standard Peerless Rye.
Is Peerless Single Barrel Rye Complex?
Peerless Single Barrel has quite a few layers of complexity.
This single barrel goes above and beyond what you would normally find in your standard Peerless Rye.
While I love the standard bottle, I get a lot more oak and rich flavors, and the mouthfeel and finish are spectacular.
It starts out with a very heavy oak presence on the first sip and that oak never leaves. It’s always lingering in the mouth and as you finish the sip, you get additional layers of flavors on top of it.
It turns into a nice buttery caramel flavor paired with dark fruits and vanilla that round out the sweetness. I get a bit more of a “Caramel Roasted Cherries” than a “Honey Roasted Cherries” but they were pretty dead on with their naming of this barrel.
Once the sweetness sets in, the pour takes a nice turn.
Your taste buds are met with really nice rye spices and pepper.
One of my favorite things about Peerless Rye whiskey is that they seem to know just how to get all the rye spice and pepper flavor without giving you a whiskey that is really “hot” on the palate.
As you sip this whiskey, you get all the beautiful rye spices you could want in a rye and it’s very well-balanced to give you a nice level of heat without going overboard.
The finish then leaves you with a beautiful buttery and oily mouthfeel that lingers for a long time. The flavors blend extremely well and will have you quickly reaching for your next sip.
What are Peerless Single Barrel Rye’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Peerless Single Barrel Rye’s strongest attribute is the balance of oak, caramel, and vanilla blended perfectly with rye spice and black pepper. This particular bottle throws in the additional dark fruits which is an excellent touch.
Is Peerless Single Barrel Rye a go-to whiskey?
Peerless Single Barrel Rye could absolutely be a go-to pour for me.
While it is a bit pricey compared to other rye whiskey on the market, it always delivers.
Is Peerless Single Barrel Rye priced accurately to its quality?
Peerless Single Barrel Rye delivers on its price tag.
While it’s a bit of a hefty price tag at $120, it does not disappoint.
Conclusion for Peerless Single Barrel Rye
If you’re looking for one of the best rye whiskeys on the market, Peerless Single Barrel Rye is one you should definitely keep an eye out for.
The standard Peerless Rye is exceptional as well, but if you see a bottle of the single barrel on the shelf, I definitely recommend picking it up.
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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