Rye & Rumba

A little background

Oak & Eden’s newest small-batch expression is a rye whiskey with a Caribbean twist! It starts with a 2-year old rye whiskey (Oak & Eden openly sources their whiskey, primarily, but not exclusively from MGP) that’s been aged in charred American Oak barrels. It’s then in-bottle finished with a Caribbean-Rum soaked Spire of wood. Yes, there is actually a spiral cut piece of wood in the bottle, which is referred to as a “Spire”. According to Oak & Eden, the entire supply of Rye & Rumba purchased by Total Wine in Texas and has an MSRP of $65.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn.)

Color in the glass

Golden Amber

Nose

The nose on this whiskey is one of its best attributes, with honeycomb, candle wax, and citronella dominating. Faint hints of spearmint exist, along with typical rye whiskey notes. Despite the rum soaked oak Spire, any hints of rum on the nose are subtle at most.

Palate

Heavy amounts of green tea, much like citrus Lipton Green Tea. Rye flavors coat the mouth well with just a hint of spice from the 95% rye mashbill. The palate on this is creamy and sweet, much like an over sweetened herbal tea.

Finish

Medium in length with light rye spice and a lingering sweetness. It’s got a unique rustic quality that reminds me of being on the farm. Although the finish is nice, it’s not this whiskies best attribute.

In closing

Of all this whiskies qualities, the nose is by far most memorable. Despite having been in-bottle finished with the rum soaked Spire, any hints of rum are very hard to identify. It’s definitely a unique whiskey that’s very approachable and worth giving a try. Although not tested, this might just be the perfect whiskey to be enjoyed over ice on a hot summer day.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Oak & Eden. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review this great release.