Grand Traverse Islay Rye

Another intriguing complimentary sample arrived with a friend during our distillery sample exchange. It's from a nearby, small-batch Michigan distillery. This Grand Traverse Islay Rye whiskey is an homage to Scottish Islay single malts that are peated. They reportedly used 20% peated barley in the mix, aiming to present a smoky rendition of a rye whiskey. This expression is 45% ABV, unfiltered, and contains no added color. It has a bright, copper hue in the glass. Judging by the many droplets that formed after swirling the glass, the cask strength was likely quite high, requiring significant dilution to reach 45%. The aroma is quite unusual: clearly, there are abundant oak spices, rye bread, and pepper. What truly surprised me was the distinct dill pickle brine note that startled me and made me hesitant to try a sip, haha. An underlying earthy scent was also present, prompting speculation about its origin, which I'll discuss further down... Fortunately, the pickle brine did not manifest on the palate whatsoever. I likely would have gagged if that had been the initial impression of this dram. Instead, it presented classic rye whiskey characteristics: pepper, cinnamon, and raw oak. The texture was somewhat slick, which is unexpected for a rye. The conclusion featured oak and rye bread, with a pleasant warmth and a mouthwatering quality. It was of moderate duration and lingered briefly. My hypothesis—and it's purely that—is that the Islay barley might not have been dried with kiln-fired peat, but rather grown in peated soil. The absence of smoke supports this theory, while soil contact would account for the earthiness detected in the aroma. Or perhaps, the distillery staff accidentally introduced vinegar into the bottling process, lol. Assigning a definitive rating is challenging. The flavor and finish were standard rye, but the aroma is exceptionally peculiar. As I'm not particularly fond of rye whiskey in general, my score will naturally be somewhat reduced. My thanks again to my friend. It was certainly an interesting addition. Cheers.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a couple bottles of this extremely limited bottling from Grand Traverse Distillery, a distillery in my home state of Michigan. Islay Rye is a rye whiskey created with 80% rye grown in Michigan and 20% malted barley from the U.K. that has been peated. There is no age statement, but the distillery states it is just under 5 years old. This is a single barrel release, available only at their four tasting rooms in Michigan, and sold in 375mL bottles. It's bottled at 45% ABV, non chill filtered, with a natural copper/amber color. The aroma leads with strong rye and oak notes. It really needs time to open up. It presents as warm rye bread or caraway seeds, with a good amount of mint and dill, and some sawdust mixed in. There are notes of apples, pears, cinnamon, and some vanilla, along with plenty of butterscotch and a bit of caramel. It doesn't have much smoke, contrary to expectations, but it does have some earthy qualities. Hints of cardboard, toasted coconut, and a distinct fennel aroma are present. A little sweet citrus emerges, like oranges with dark chocolate. More butterscotch appears, and a slight bubblegum note. It smells like spice cake, and for a fleeting moment, I detected curry powder or turmeric. The complexity is nice, but it needs more peaty character to live up to its name. The palate begins with spicy rye, but it's not overly intense. Instead of peat smoke, there's a sensation of charred wood with burnt-out embers. Oak, mint, and dill are noticeable, along with slightly floral and herbal notes. There's a bit of malted barley and more warm rye. Toasted coconut and cardboard are present, alongside cinnamon, clove, and butterscotch. It's a pleasant whiskey, especially for a small distillery. It has a light to medium body with a mouth-coating yet fairly dry texture. The finish is medium long and dry, featuring rye, mint, and toasted oak. This rye is very easy to drink. While I believe the peated barley should be at 30-40% to provide the smoky component I desired, the barley present does help to balance the rye. At $50 for 375mL, I don't think it's truly worth the price, but considering it's a single barrel release that only appears every few years, I'm pleased I purchased two bottles. I'm particularly happy that the nearest tasting room was only an hour's drive away, rather than the five hours it would have taken to reach the distillery itself! A solid 4 out of 5 stars. Cheers

It's still cold outside. The Patriots dominated the Chargers; it wasn't even a contest. A ribeye is on the grill. The wood stove is going. Beck is playing. A rye would be an ideal pre-dinner drink. From a collection of samples provided by the SDT, a friend gave me this one, and now I'm finally getting to it (I know I'm very behind, but I will eventually finish them all). The liquid has the color of a copper penny. A lovely color. It's certainly a rye. Rye, dill, and pumpernickel are immediately apparent. There's an unusual note that's hard to describe but I can only liken it to a chlorinated cleaner. It's subtle but imparts a slight overall funk. There's some butterscotch, peppercorns, and oak. The combined aromas fade quickly, but the dominant rye and pumpernickel remain. The first sip is hot and peppery. As the palate adjusts to the medium-bodied creamy texture, distinct flavors emerge. An odd mix of butterscotch, dill, brine, rye, dry cinnamon, cloves, and a bit of charcoal. However, the unusual combination works well together. As time passes, the blend of flavors becomes more balanced. A clear improvement from the initial sip. The finish is all oak, butterscotch, and cinnamon. A hint of spearmint on the back end. A pleasant warming sensation throughout the body makes this a perfect drink on a crisp, cold, clear evening. It's challenging to find ryes that are approachable and easy to drink. More so, in my opinion, than any other whiskey type. This one is quite drinkable. It took some time, but patience is greatly rewarded. A fine rye whiskey. Thanks again to my friend. [88/100][Tasted: 1/13/19]

The peat is mild and also mellows the rye. The peat is most apparent in the finish and is very gentle, not acrid or medicinal in the slightest. Sweet smoke persists. While it might not be spicy or peaty enough for devoted rye or Islay enthusiasts, I find it to be very well-balanced and delicious!

The finest I've sampled from the distillery. Exceptionally smooth with considerable smokiness. The price is its main drawback. $39.95 for a 375 ml bottle.

A smooth, smoky character, with a robust and sweet rye presence and a lingering finish.