Review #: 288
Description: Eastern Kille Bottled-In-Bond Rye
Spirit: Rye
Background: Eastern Kille is a distillery out of Grand Rapids Michigan. They have released a few bottled in bond bourbons, but this represents their first BiB Rye. I believe it used Michigan grown rye. This batch consisted of just 2, 53 gallon barrels. This sample was provided to me blind by a friend and the contents revealed after sending my notes.
Distillery – Eastern Kille
Bottler – Eastern Kille
Brand – Eastern Kille
Selection – N/A
ABV – 50%
Age – 4 Years
Nose – Bubblegum for days, there’s some eucalyptus and mint, but then also some fudge and basil, rosemary, rye. Ethanol has some sting in there though if you leave your nose in long enough. There’s a kind of “green” bright note that I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m getting almost that cold turkey deli meat that I’ve gotten once before (on some mgp bourbon).
Taste – Sweet and oily/buttery, silky caramel, brownie batter, brown sugar, cinnamon pancakes, coffee beans
Finish – More coffee beans (nice roasted almost chocolate like flavor), freshly baked rye bread, rye/ginger/cinnamon are a touch spicy and play well with the heat.
Guess: Rye with some weird finish, 8 year mark?, 55-60% ABV, Barrell Seagrass? This feels like something weird Barrell would do and be able to pull off.\
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? Yes
Thoughts:
This is so out of left field and weird and different…and it works. Despite all the craziness, it maintains balance and complexity. It’s a touch hot, but plays that off on the spice of (what I hope is) the rye. I LOVE the coffee note that I get in there. It’s different, pronounced, and very enjoyable.
Reveal: I am shocked this isn’t finished in some weird way. Apparently they won’t be releasing another batch for several years, which is a shame.