Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Rye (2024 Release)

I was doubtful about this grain-to-glass rye, thinking it was just hype from the brand given its high cost (and the fact they only mention the corn source, not the rye!). Nevertheless, I purchased it. It's 123.2 proof with a mash bill of 63% rye, 24% corn, and 13% malted barley. Tasting it neat. It has a golden brown hue and leaves average legs in the glass. The aroma is sweet and grassy, with cherry, vanilla oak, and a hint of ethanol in the background. The taste is an initial wave of sweet burnt sugar followed by sour grain, all enveloped in a rush of ethanol. It has tannic and dry rye spice, white pepper, and an astringent quality. The mouthfeel is coating and oily. Dry oak becomes dominant after a while, taking over the finish, which still presents as more sweet white sugar, yet remains full of spice and spearmint. My lips tingle from the long, lingering finish that eventually shifts towards notes of sour cherry cough drops. You have to be a rye enthusiast to appreciate this (which I am), but even then, it's not a refined or balanced rye (despite having only 63% rye in its mash bill!). Did the distiller lose control of this one?! The aroma (which is its best feature) and the taste are so dissimilar. The finish becomes more agreeable and seems sweeter as you adjust to the alcohol content. Adding ice reduces the ethanol and oak tannins, making it more balanced, but it results in a sweeter/sourer finish compared to the tingling mint sensation when sipped straight. It's perplexing. This rye is comparable to a lanky teenager - all awkward limbs and sharp edges. It tastes younger than its 6-year age statement suggests. It's intriguing... but not straightforward; it's "unusual" in both positive and negative ways. I can picture it performing well in a Manhattan – the raw rye and sweet vermouth might truly shine together. However, that would be an expensive rye for mixing. Ultimately, I keep returning to the price point, which doesn't align with this whiskey. But I've had similar reservations about other products from this brand. A critic rated this #30 out of the top 100 in 2024. I will try it again over time.

The aroma is very herbal and spicy, with scents of mint, licorice, cilantro, thyme, white pepper, rye, fennel, and a touch of graham cracker. The alcohol is not unpleasant, but noticeable if you inhale deeply. A musty farm-like note emerges after it warms, which is somewhat charming. The palate is sweeter than the aroma suggests, with chocolate mint, caramel chew, brown sugar, wintergreen, clove, coriander, sarsaparilla, and a general nuttiness. There's even a surprising watermelon note present. It's rich and complex. The finish is medium in length, returning to the herb garden with green tea leaf, anise, sage, eucalyptus, and sour dill, alongside cinnamon, orange marmalade, leather, sandalwood, and a hint of something floral (honeysuckle? jasmine? I don't often consume flowers). The texture is very thick and oily; no graininess is present, which helps prevent the herbaceous mix from becoming too harsh on the palate. What an experience! A rye for rye enthusiasts. I really wanted to dismiss it as not being worth the $119.00 I paid, and I was ready to write off the Heaven Hill grain to glass whiskies as overpriced marketing stunts, but I find it difficult to be so definitive because this one is much superior to the others in the series. An excellent and very distinctive whiskey. I would consider buying it again, even at the admittedly steep price.

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium amber. Smell: Abundant fruit: apple, apricot, pear, raisin. Taste: Baking spice, clove, cinnamon. Finish: long duration with moderate heat. Splash: A peculiar wood note, almost like sawdust, emerges. Rocks: Since I have a large rock nearby... this drinks well over ice. Overall: 9/10 - 2025 was an excellent year for rye, even though this was the 2024 bottling. This was my first encounter with Heaven Hill's Grain to Glass, and at nearly 20% off MSRP, it was difficult to resist. I'm pleased I tried it and strongly endorse it!

What a rye! Herbs and spices, heavy juniper, anise, a slight dill followed by a surge of black pepper. Once this fades, there's mild caramel and some more pronounced oak that leads to a very spicy, creamy, and long finish. I've never been overly fond of Heaven Hill, but this rye was a delight!

It starts out incredibly hot. Damn. But then you can taste the high corn content in the mash bill and get some sweetness. It has mouthfeel, but the burn doesn't linger. Very different from other ryes. I got this at HH, and the tour guide mentioned this was her favorite.

Yes. This is good despite the cost. Very high rye bourbon flavor, rich and creamy without water, and becomes herbal, grassy rye with added water. A fantastic chameleon sip. Versatile is a better description. I almost passed on this.