Driftless Glen Rye Whiskey

A little background

Driftless Glen Distillery is located in Baraboo, WI which you may know as “Circus City.” In 1884, The Ringling Brothers Circus gave their first official performance in Baraboo which contributed to the cities nickname. The Driftless Glen distillery is located next to the Baraboo River in the Driftless region of Wisconsin. The Driftless Glen rye whiskey was the first product distilled and bottled by this company. There is no age statement on the bottle, it’s made from 75% rye whiskey is bottled 96 proof. Every Friday the Driftless Glen team samples different barrels and narrow down the selection to 1 or 2 barrels which will be bottled. Driftless Glen believes in producing high-quality products. Their passion for producing handcrafted whiskey is evident. Locally sourced ingredients, a handwritten label, and a purchase price of $35 MRSP make this an attractive product.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Light Gold

Nose

Sweet rye spices, cinnamon, vanilla, and honey are pleasantly pronounced. After a few minutes in the glass, notes of clove and brown sugar become evident. The wonderful combination of smells made it difficult to put the glass down.

Palate

The first sip presented an eruption of cinnamon and clove in the mid-back palate and a glowing warmth that coated the mouth. The second sip began with cinnamon and clove that slowly faded into allspice and baking spices. The third sip was delicate with a light, but pleasant, mouth feel with the same tasting notes above.

Finish

The finish was short to medium, although, delightful and resembling a piece of old-fashioned clove stick candy. The unique combination of flavors outweighed the short finish.

In conclusion

Driftless Glen Rye will invigorate your senses. The sweet smell of rye spices, vanilla, and honey combined with clove and cinnamon make this whiskey easy to drink. I am surprised by the absence of a traditional rye burn considering the product is bottled at 96 proof. However, this whiskey would be an excellent choice for anyone interested in expanding their palate into the world of rye whiskey. Avid rye drinkers will enjoy the olfactory stimulation, flavor, and warmth of this product. Driftless Glen’s passion for hand-crafted high-quality products can be found in every sip.