Beehive Distilling, Cask Aged Rye Whiskey

Distilled from a mix of Hazlett rye and heirloom Hopi blue corn grown locally in Utah, then aged in new American oak and 20-year-old Mexican Sherry barrels. No age statement. This is Batch 1, released November 2025. Tasted neat. Appearance: Bright copper with light coating legs. Nose: Vanilla oak, a funky earthy note, and bubblegum – light and indistinct. Palate: White sugar and vanilla, with a little astringent ethanol, tannic oak, and spicy grassy rye appearing later. Mouthfeel: Thin but with a tingling spice. Finish: Transitions from spicy tannic leather and ethanol warmth to a dry sour finish that is relatively short. Adding an ice cube reduces the tannic spice but leaves the sourness and that astringent aroma. Beehive has a history of producing excellent gin and barrel-aged gin. While this is a good initial attempt at aged whiskies, especially with the appealing concept of sherry cask aged rye, it still needs development to reach the quality of their gins. UPDATE: Wine Enthusiast gave this a 95, calling it Superb. It is good, but tastes vary. I value the differences in personal preferences.