A little background
The Old Swagger 12 Year Rising Tide Cask Strength Rye is a 12-year-old sourced rye whiskey from MGP in Indiana, bottled in Kentucky at 110.8 proof (55.4% ABV) without chill filtration. It retails for $174.99 and sits at the premium end of the rye whiskey market. Rising Tide Spirits is the brainchild of master blender Ed Bley, a man who cut his teeth hand-selecting and blending over 250 private barrels before ever putting his own name on a bottle. His reputation is the kind you can’t manufacture — it was built barrel by barrel, release by release, and validated by the kind of enthusiasm that had whiskey lovers lining up from across the country and overseas to get their hands on his picks. In 2017, he was named Wild Turkey’s top private barrel customer globally, which tells you everything you need to know about the seriousness of his palate.
The Old Swagger 12 Year Rising Tide Cask Strength Rye is the uncut, unfiltered expression in the Old Swagger lineup — a step up in intensity from the 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond version. Where that release plays it a bit more refined, this one lets the aged rye stocks speak at full volume. The bottle itself is worth noting: Rising Tide packages this release in a hand-blown glass decanter with an embossed cardinal inside, presented in a decorative tube. It’s one of the more visually striking packages on the market, the kind of thing that earns a permanent spot on the back bar. Rising Tide’s philosophy with the Old Swagger line is straightforward — release only when the whiskey and timing are right, and let the liquid do the talking.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Dark Gold
| Nose | Taste | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel, brown sugar, orange rind, banana, pancake batter, lime and vanilla. | Peppermint, instant coffee, clove, black pepper, baking cocoa, lime, cinnamon red hot, and rye spice. | Lime, espresso, cinnamon, rye spice, ripe cherry, clove, dark caramel, and oak. |
In closing
At the end of the day, the Old Swagger 12 Year Rising Tide Cask Strength Rye is exactly what a great MGP rye whiskey looks like in its most complete form. The nose opens with a wonderful, sweet citrus character — orange rind, brown sugar, and vanilla — that keeps developing the longer it sits in the glass. The palate delivers a true bloom of flavor: dominant rye spice, cinnamon, espresso, and dark baking chocolate hitting in waves with a rich, syrupy mouthfeel that only comes from non-chill filtration and quality aged stock. The finish is long and layered, cycling through lime, clove, ripe cherry, and oak before settling into a warm, spiced close. This is the kind of rye you reach for when you want to remember why you love the category.
At $174.99, the Old Swagger 12 Year Rising Tide Cask Strength Rye sits in premium territory, and it earns that price tag on the strength of the liquid alone — before you even factor in the hand-blown glass decanter it comes in. That bottle isn’t a gimmick; it genuinely outclasses virtually anything else on a bar shelf. Ed Bley’s background as one of the most experienced private barrel selectors in the country is evident in every aspect of this release, and for rye whiskey lovers who want the full expression of what 12 years and cask strength can do to MGP grain, this is the bottle to seek out. Exceptional is the right word for it.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Rising Tide Spitirs. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Old Swagger 12 Years Rising Tide Cask Strength Rye Aged
The Good
- Beautiful Nose
- Incredible packaging
- Powerful flavor
The Bad
- Limited
