Home Reviews Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey

Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey

July 7, 2020 · By Bourbon in Indiana · 8.3 / 10
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Whiskey Consensus Score
8.3 /10
Very Good
Score Breakdown
Complexity
8.3
Nose
8.2
Palate
8.4
Finish
8.4
Value
8.2
Consensus Score
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Nose
Palate
Finish
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Value
8.3
/ 10
Our Verdict
Very Good

This whiskey comes in at 112.3 proof and is a blend of 18-month barrels with a 100% rye mash bill and 5-year-old barrels with a 100% rye mash bill.

The Good

  • Explosive Flavor
  • Balanced

The Bad

  • Availability
Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey
Photo by Union Horse Distilling Co.

A little background

Union Horse Distillery is a 10-year-old small batch distillery in Lenexa, Kansas. The company uses industry standard 53 gallon charred white oak barrels for their whiskey. Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey comes in at 112.3 proof and is a blend of 18 month barrels with a 100% rye mash bill and 5 year old barrels with a 100% rye mashbill and is therefore a small batch rye. The offering has an MSRP of around $60.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Copper

Nose

On the nose, I get notes of orange peel, vanilla, spearmint gum, and white pepper.

Palate

The rye has a medium to high viscosity and coats the entire palate. The sweetness of the vanilla and the orange citrus carry over from the nose, but the main players here are the spearmint and cinnamon spice. This really lingers on the tongue for a good while.

Finish

This has a medium to long finish with the spearmint, citrus, and cinnamon spice carrying over from the palate. There is also a pop of florality on the finish.

In closing

This is a very solid rye whiskey that I would love to have on my bar. At the $60 price point, I think it competes well with the other players in that range. Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey would be a fun pour to try when your buddies come over, especially in a bling tasting!

Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey

112.3 Proof
8.3

Complexity

8.3/10

Nose

8.2/10

Palate

8.4/10

Finish

8.4/10

Value

8.2/10

The Good

  • Explosive Flavor
  • Balanced

The Bad

  • Availability
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Barrel Proof Review Rye Whiskey Union Horse

Every bottle on Whiskey Consensus is evaluated across five categories on a 1–100 scale. The five scores are averaged to produce a final overall score out of 10.

Nose
Aroma, complexity & first impressions
Palate
Flavor, balance & mouthfeel
Finish
Length, character & quality
Complexity
Depth, layers & evolution in the glass
Value
Quality relative to retail price
Score Rating What It Means
9.5 – 10.0ExceptionalOne for the history books
9.0 – 9.4OutstandingA benchmark expression
8.5 – 8.9GreatSeek this bottle out
8.0 – 8.4Very GoodAbove average in every way
7.5 – 7.9GoodWorth your money
7.0 – 7.4Above AverageA solid everyday pour
6.5 – 6.9AverageUnremarkable but drinkable
6.0 – 6.4Below AverageHard to recommend
5.5 – 5.9Hard PassBetter options at this price
0.0 – 5.4AvoidNot worth your time or money
Bourbon in Indiana
About the Author
Bourbon in Indiana
Whiskey Reviewer · Whiskey Consensus  · 57 posts

Small town guy from Indiana that enjoys trying new bourbons and sharing them with his friends and family. For him, bourbon started as a hobby and quickly turned into a way to connect and interact with new people. You can find/contact him on Instagram @bourbon_in_indiana

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