We have a few sins one can commit on this site. First is the lack of frank discussion about spirits and their companies. The second is the usage of language meant to confuse people not familiar with spirits to make it seem like secret knowledge. With that in mind here’s a company from 2009 peddling as a prohibition whiskey that because New York has ‘terroir’ is a good whiskey. What a load of horseshit.
We’ll never understand why companies feel the need to try to own something that they don’t need too. Okay, you’re 3 dudes with money and brewing experience, just say you made a damn good whiskey. There’s a million other companies out there trying to be prohibition cool, and even if there are some who are it’s lost. Anyway, there’s a lot that they have to say so we’ll quickly let them get onto it.
What they Say: “At the dawn of a new century, before the turbulence of Prohibition, the stalwarts of saloons were Ragtime and Rye. From Lincoln to the Dust Bowl, the wrath of battle to the backyard barbecue, Rye Whiskey has waxed and waned like amber waves of grain, it’s popularity only recently reclaimed as a resolute American spirit.
Distilled from rye proudly grown in New York State, this uncompromised whiskey is aged exclusively in full-size barrels for three years to ensure robust flavor and nuanced finish. Cold northern winters and rich soil provide an ideal terroir for the rye varietals selected from our farmers.
Enjoy it on its own or in a cocktail.
New York Distilling Company is dedicated to creating distinguished spirits one batch at a time. Visit our distillery and adjoining bar, the Shanty at 79 Richardson Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.”
Taste: 5.5 – It gives you a sharp intake followed by a much more mellowing rye flavor.
Aftertaste: 7.0 – That rye continues and then after a long time gains more smoke as it hits in waves.
Burn/Smooth: 7.5 – It is surprisingly smooth aside from that sharp intake at first.
Aroma: 7.5 – It smells potent, but not overwhelming. There’s no harshness here, and overall it smells like a delicious rye whiskey.
Honesty: 3.0 – Hitting prohibition and ragtime is all well and good even if you are from Brooklyn. But when you haven’t been around since then, and also use the T-word – sorry bud.
Mixability: 5.5
W/ Rocks: 6.0 – It dilutes it a little too much. Would be better to just chill the bottle in the freezer and drink neat.
Whiskey and Coke: 5.0 – It’s okay. But you lose so much of the character of the whiskey. It’s a more flavored coke, but this truly is a ‘neat’ whiskey.
Value: 4.0 – Nope – you are charging too much.
Google Shop Average: $45
Website: http://www.nydistilling.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 4.5
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Metric Score: 40/70 |+| Metric Average: 5.71 |+| Reviewer Average: 4.5
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Final Thoughts: It’s a disgusting practice and the more we talk about it the angrier we get. Feelings aside the objective truth is this has some nice rye taste and is fairly smooth straight. It’s too much though with a price inflated to match its ego.
