STELLUM RYE
The identity of Stellum Rye is rooted in a tried and true 95% Rye Indiana mash bill. To enhance this classic style, we incorporate small amounts more barley-forward rye and choice barrels from both Kentucky and Tennessee. This brings a full, round mouthfeel and flashes of buttery sweetness to an otherwise spicy and tightly focused Rye Whiskey.
AWARDS
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San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2021) (2023) - DOUBLE gold
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Ultimate Spirits Challenge (2021) - 94 points
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ascot awards (2021) - DOUBLE platinum
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John Barleycorn Awards (2021) - gold
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l.a. spirits awards (2021) - platinum, best rye whiskey, best whiskey
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New York International Spirits Competition (2021) - double Gold
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TASTING NOTES
Appearance: Deep copper.
Nose: Stewed apples, peaches, and pears dominate the initial nose, along with an undertone of baking spices. Nutmeg and clove provide a counterbalance to the sweet fruits, while a light mint and licorice note bring further depth to the aroma.
Palate: Aniseed, cardamom, and coriander wake up your palate with an intense spice punch. Notes of lemon peel and tangerine coming from the rye grain provide a nice citrus component to the overall spiciness. As the whiskey breathes in the glass, fresh green apples and spearmint arise, which offers just enough of a sweet component to engage all your taste buds.
Finish: Star anise, white pepper, and mint linger on the palate before fading into a honey-sweetened jasmine green tea.
With the Addition of Water: The citrus notes on the palate become more pronounced with candied lemon and orange peels, all supported by a mint simple syrup like you would find in a derby julep.
What first drew me in to this pour was the rich peaches in syrup note on the nose that was unexpected for a cask strength rye. Normally there is a strong spice note on the nose to match the palate, but this rye skillfully balanced the sweet and spicy notes throughout the entire experience. The rye spice hit me right away on the palate, immediately followed by the floral, citrus, and spearmint notes. It might sound a bit strange, but that combination of flavors brings out such an intriguing lemon-lime soda flavor that makes me think there is a subtle carbonation on my tongue. To close out the tasting experience, the lack of chill-filtration allowed the rye to coat my entire mouth with sweet honey, mint, and lemon peel. This whiskey hits all of the notes I look for in a high-proof rye, and then some.