Peerless Rye – Davidoff, TBWS, OWS, Five Star Barrel Select
Quick Stats:
- Distiller: Kentucky Peerless Distillery
- Spirit: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- Aged: Unstated
- Proof: 108.8
- Purchase Price: $79.95
- Kentucky Peerless Website
- Davidoff Tampa Website
About The Distillery & Bottle: - “Originally established in the early 1800s, Kentucky Peerless is now home to six fermentation tanks, a 3,800-gallon beer well, and a one-of-a-kind 26-foot continuous copper still made locally by Vendome Copper & Brass Works. The 2,500-gallon Peerless cooker holds the finest corn, rye, barley, and Kentucky limestone water.”
- “Peerless® Straight Rye Whiskey is a well balanced rye, bolstered by sweet tones of maple, brown sugar and light citrus sweetness. Finish with a hint of oak & no burn on the throat. Due to the carefully unique distilling process, Peerless® offers a smooth taste that stands out from other ryes. A palatable sipping rye to be savored with friends and family.”
About Davidoff Tampa: “Designed to be Cigar City’s destination of choice for those seeking the ultimate premium cigar experience. Visit us to enjoy only the best cigars and libations, featuring over 5,000 sq. ft. of humidified space, multiple lounges both indoor and out, and elegant full service bar with over 100 different spirits.”
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Nose
(4)
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Palate
(4)
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Finish
(3.5)
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Value
(3.5)
Notes & Review
Nose: star anise, sweet corn, baking spices, tangy rye, chocolate malt, hibiscus
Palate: Spiced rye, charred oak, brown sugar, plum, vanilla, dried cherry
Finish: Sweet corn, toasted oak, caramel cream, leather, charred rye
Review: Peerless was one of our earlier stops with the blog trips up to Kentucky. We were really interested in the revival of an old brand built once again from the ground up. Located in Louisville near the river bridge, it is an out-of-the way stop that escapes the bustle of the city for a more focused experience.
We very much enjoyed our time there, and with Caleb Kilburn, their Master Distiller, and were delighted to see a single barrel of both the Rye and Bourbon materialize at our usual haunt, Davidoff in Tampa, FL. However, at nearly $100, does it stand up to the price tag?
Many love Peerless’ pours, while others are wary of a younger distiller and dram in a saturated market full of tried-and-true options. However, if you’re a fan of ryes with some punch and a balanced assortment of flavors, you’re in luck. There is a saying: “there is a rye for everyone” (we just said it right there, so technically NOW it’s a saying). But, all joking aside, rye whiskies seem to be rather polarizing. While some love the livelier pour of a spicy rye, others love the mellow earthy flavors some distilleries pull, and some others like the funky twang of a good… well… tangy rye I guess is how we’d describe it.
This Peerless expression definitely hits the mark if you’re a fan of spiced rye profiles. Don’t get us wrong, it drinks right around where you’d expect for something around 110, and the spice doesn’t overpower the rest of the notes, but it definitely is a primary focus-point of the dram. We personally like the spiced taste and the bold flavor and heat, but some might not. As with all things, its a matter of preference.
Down below the spiced overtones you’ll still be able to pick out some more delicate flavors and scents, like hibiscus and plum, which serve as nice counterbalances to the boldness of the rye and oak.
If you’re around the area, definitely try a pour and see if it’s your thing. We really enjoyed it, but rye whiskies are so subjective to the individual, it makes sense to try it first if you’re inexperienced in ryes. However, if you love bold pours and spiced rye, this is definitely going to be right up your alley.
At $80, it comes with a hefty price tag that we think is absolutely worth it if this is the flavor profile you’re going for. It’s one of the better spiced ryes we’ve come across, and some of the other ryes that fall around this price point are usually highly allocated, making this a great pick if you’re having trouble finding some of the more rare high-end rye bottles.
