Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Bulleit Straight Rye is a small-batch Rye whiskey that is considered to be a cult-classic among lovers of Rye whiskey. It is produced by the makers of Bulleit Bourbon, and is known to have one of the highest presence of Rye in their mash bill with very little malted barley and no corn. It is a relatively new release in the market as compared to many other American whiskey brands, but has since gained a tremendously positive reputation in a short period of time through its peculiarly high Rye content that gives it a unique taste.

History

The Bulleit brand was created by Tom Bulleit based on his great-great-great grandfather, Augustus Bulleit’s recipe that was high on Rye, something that was not present in Bourbon whiskeys at the time. Tom altered the recipe according to his observations and the current legal requirements for Bourbon whiskey (a mash bill that contains 50% Corn or more), and opted for a lengthy maturation period. The Bulleit brand was more widely distributed and shipped two decades later in the year 2000, and a rise in popularity began to show. The whiskey was being distilled at a Lawrenceburg facility in Indiana which was later moved to Shelbyville, Kentucky in 2017 by Diageo, who bought the brand from Seagram’s. Bulleit Rye whiskey was released in 2011, and has steadily risen to become one of the top Rye whiskeys in the market today.

Making Process

The Bulleit Rye mash bill is made up of 95% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley, which makes it one of the few whiskeys with such an astonishingly high Rye content. Even the Bulleit Bourbon mash bill contains a higher amount of Rye than most brands, and this plays a huge role in setting apart both, Bulleit Rye and Bulleit Bourbon from other brands. A small-batch whiskey, Bulleit Rye presents no age-statement and it is unclear on how long it is matured before bottling, but the whiskey lacks the signature ‘bite’ associated with most Rye and ‘Rye-heavy’ whiskeys. This indicates that Bulleit Rye whiskey is matured for a substantial amount of time, probably something around the six-year maturation that Bulleit Bourbon undergoes.

Alcohol Percentage

Bulleit Rye whiskey carries an alcohol percentage of 45% ABV (90 US Proof), slightly higher than the standard limit for American whiskeys.

Awards

Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013 Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012 Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2014 Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2015 4 Stars: Highly Recommended verdict in the Spirits Journal Gold Medal: Exceptional verdict from the Beverage Testing Institute