Breuckelen 77 Rye & Corn Whiskey

77 Whiskey Rye and Corn, 45% ABV. This offering from Breuckelen Distilling in Brooklyn, N.Y., is an intriguing Rye whiskey. Having no prior knowledge of Breuckelen Distilling, I was fortunate to take a chance on this when I saw it at a local store on sale for $40. The label itself provided the kind of clear information all whiskies should offer, unlike the often misleading details found on many US labels, though that's a topic for another time. This bottle precisely details its contents, origin, and age. My only minor issue is the white wax seal. It's made with 90% Rye and 10% Corn sourced from local NY farms, aged for 439 days in American Oak Barrels. Their website states: "Local Rye & Corn is distilled on a Coffey style pot still which produces a cleaner, softer spirit in a single pass. We distill rye and corn mashes separately and blend them after maturation. Rye is a brash spirit, with rich spicy notes. Our methods tone down rye’s intensity, but retain its characteristic style and full flavor. Distilled from 90% rye, 10% corn, aged in new American oak." The nose offers the expected notes of a good rye: fresh dill/rye spice, cut grass, and vanilla. A very pleasant aroma. The taste is also very good, featuring fresh, clean dill and rye spice, sweet corn, and vanilla. While not overly complex, the flavors are distinct and vibrant. The finish is short but satisfying, with the rye spice and corn notes remaining prominent. I'm quite impressed with this. They also have a Bottled in Bond version and a 100% Rye, which I eagerly anticipate trying. Distribution might be limited, but it's highly recommended if you can find it. Overall Grade: B. Visit us at https://www..com and explore our tasting journals: Scotch Whisky Tasting Journal - https://tinyurl.com/yc55yhu6 Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Journal - https://tinyurl.com/jmvp9sew

Closer to 3.5 stars than 3. It's young and pricey, typical for many micro-distilled whiskeys, but it's not bad. It has a strong rye presence, sweetness, and a very raw, green, grain-forward profile that reflects the grain-to-glass philosophy, for better or worse. Don't expect a masterpiece; purchase it to support a small producer doing good work. It shows significant promise for when the spirit has more time to mature.

This was an outstanding surprise! My wife brought this back for me from a trip to Brooklyn (much better than a t-shirt). Contrary to the expert review, the bottle I have says that it was aged for 839 days. I get much more of a corn/bourbon taste than I do the rye. I get the rye/spice notes on the back end. Damn good whiskey to my palate.

Costing $11 at the bar, it's superior to many offerings from micro-distilleries. It has a rye character with some sweetness and a slightly unusual but not unpleasant aftertaste.

I really like the mix of spicy and sweet. That's my type of whisky. It's worth trying compared to many other large commercial products.

A very light aroma. Young rye comes through first. Lacks body. Sweetness emerges at the end.