Description
Masterson’s 10 Year Straight Rye is an all-rye whiskey with a story that crosses a border. The spirit is distilled from 100% rye grain in Canada. It then rests for a full ten years in new American oak. After that it travels south to Sonoma, California, where it is bottled under the Masterson’s name.
The tasting notes call the color tawny brown, though some reviewers see a lighter amber. Lift it to your nose and you find caramel, a little honey and bright orange. Fresh rye bread and soft oak sit underneath the fruit.
The first sip is sweet, then the rye wakes up. Cinnamon and black pepper build across your tongue, with orange and orchard fruit keeping things lively. The body is medium and clean rather than heavy. The official notes describe a long, lingering finish of oak, earth, rye spice and maple. Some reviewers find it quicker and more peppery.
Because the flavor is bright and grain-led, it shines in stirred drinks. Try it in a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, where the pepper cuts through vermouth or sugar. Neat, give it a few minutes in the glass first. A drop of water helps the honey and fruit open up.
Pour it next to dark chocolate or smoked meats and the spice has something to push against. Do you like rye that tastes clearly of rye? With a decade of oak and no heavy sweetness, this bottle is worth a look.
