Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye

An excellent purchase. These two words come to mind clearly when I try this whiskey. I'm reviewing a new bottle, but it has a history. Before the pandemic, I commuted to work. I had one child out of daycare and in public school, so things weren't as tight, but a second child was still in daycare. I paid $175 monthly for a train pass into the city and for daycare; if you have kids, you know how difficult it can be. Budget was key for whiskey. I spent a lot of time comparing scores on websites with online prices, and when I found this, it seemed like a clear choice. Everything I read about it sounded like my kind of thing, and it cost $35 a bottle. The issue was, there wasn't much left. The first batch seemed limited, as I grabbed one of the last bottles in my area before it vanished for another two years. I opened that first bottle while watching the 49ers play the Chiefs in the 2020 Super Bowl, just before everything went crazy. I invited my dad over, and he brought a bottle of Aberlour A'Bunadh, a Christmas gift from my mom. We're comparing an 86-proof Irish Rye with a 120-proof sherry-matured scotch. The Aberlour should have been the clear winner. And honestly, the Aberlour was better. But this Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye held its own. It wasn't like we tasted the rye, then the scotch, and thought, 'Wow, that scotch is SO MUCH BETTER.' No. It was a matter of degrees. It was like Rocky fighting Apollo Creed to a draw and losing by a split decision. Or maybe it wasn't quite THAT close, but it was close enough that when the Kilbeggan reappeared in early 2022, just before St. Patrick's Day, I bought one for myself and one for my dad because, why not? It was on sale for $30 a bottle, and any Irish whiskey that can stand up to a scotch is a winner in my book, because, frankly, I'm not a big fan of Irish whiskey anymore. Which is interesting. I feel like many of us who enjoy whiskey started with Irish and then realized other styles are superior. Don't get me wrong: I've enjoyed Redbreast 21 and Cask Strength. I've enjoyed Green Spot Montalena and Yellow Spot. I like Teeling Blackpitts, and the Dark Silkie wasn't bad either. It's just that when I spend money, I tend to prefer comparable scotches or ryes. I don't particularly care for Kilbeggan Single Pot Still, nor has Writer's Tears impressed me much. But this Small Batch Rye is a completely different story. It has the apple/pear sweetness on the nose you'd expect from Tully or Jameson with a hint of pie spice that gives it an edge over them. The spice is a mix of cinnamon and rye, giving it a candy-like quality, and there's no metallic note like you find with Tully. Honestly, the nose here could be mistaken for a younger Speyside scotch. The palate continues the experience with more fruit and a spiced finish. Look, this won't change your life or blow you away, but it will likely give you your best option in the Irish category if you only have $20 in your wallet, and with whiskey prices constantly rising, I bought another bottle yesterday, thinking I should stock up. After all, sometimes, when you have guests over for a tasting designed to build to a climax, you need a starting point, and this is a great one, a perfect first pour of the evening. Last week, it was followed by Bruichladdich Islay 2013, then Highland Park Cask Strength No. 2, then a detour to Templeton 10 Year Single Barrel Rye, and finishing with Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength. Looking at that list, it's clear this was the mildest of the group, but it was a nice introduction to the Bruichladdich, just as the Bruichladdich was a nice introduction to the Highland Park Cask Strength (notes on that are coming soon: spoiler: it was probably my favorite of the bunch). And during the tasting, we watched a great football game (if by great you mean your defense knocked out their starting quarterback in the first quarter, and they won easily without stressing me, my dad, and my brother-in-law). Much has changed since that 2020 Super Bowl. My kids are no longer in daycare. I now work from home and no longer spend almost $200 a month on transportation or pay for daycare, which means I can spend a bit more on whiskey and buy better bottles. One significant thing is that while I was rooting for the Chiefs that year because I love Andy Reid, this year, that love is gone, and he's a sworn enemy. At least for the next week (I can't hate him forever; he was probably the most consistently best coach the Eagles ever had). But I'm an Eagles fan, and next Sunday, I want my team to win. You'd want yours to win if they were in the big game (and I'd support you and sympathize when your team is there because IT'S A GAME AND IT'S NOT REAL LIFE!...I'm tired of the online toxicity that goes way beyond friendly teasing and trash talk. Our fans have a reputation for it, but look around, it's not just us). And I have a bottle ready to open for the game, a tall green bottle with LAPHROAIG and LORE on the outside. And I'm excited about that. But for tonight, I'm pre-gaming for a concert I'm attending (Big Thief…if you haven't heard them and like folk rock Americana/alt-country, check them out). Anyway, until the next round, cheers! P.S. I just saw that Powers is releasing their own Irish rye for $32 a bottle. This could have some competition soon. Here's hoping!

After extensive whiskey tasting, one might feel experiences are becoming repetitive. While not truly the case, this sentiment can arise. Introducing an Irish rye, a novel concept and, to my knowledge, the first rye from outside North America I've encountered. Its mash bill, seemingly rye, malted barley, and unmalted barley, is also a first. Let's explore if its quality matches its uniqueness. Nose: Rich sweetness. Apple, pear, peach, and apricot. Hints of dried apricot and black licorice. Pineapple and coconut. Almond. Toffee, vanilla, and a subtle note of shortbread cookie. Vanilla frosting and marshmallow. Floral undertones. Oak. Palate: Dried apricot and golden raisin. Granny Smith apple and pear. Pineapple and a prominent coconut presence. Vanilla, toffee, malt, and caramel. Almond, walnut, macadamia, and cashew. Oak. Finish: The richness persists throughout. Apricot (both dried and fresh) and golden raisin. Apple and pear. Lime. Shortbread cookie, vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Almond, walnut, and cashew. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. A moderately long finish, leaning towards the latter. This is outstanding, exceeding my expectations. An Irish rye sounds experimental, and I believe this was pioneering. The distillery excelled on their initial attempt, setting an exceptionally high standard for future releases. This was purchased on sale for $27, reduced from its usual $32 price point. Regardless of price, it represents remarkable value. All aspects – nose, palate, and finish – receive equally high marks. The value further enhances its appeal. A brilliant concept. An excellent mash bill. Superb value. Nothing more needs to be said. A score of 4.25/5 – commendably done by the distillery.

Since my very Irish grandfather would rise from his grave and reprimand me if I didn't prioritize Irish whiskey in March...I'm exploring some new Irish drams! And, there is NO regret about this having been one of them. The concept alone is worth a try - an Irish rye? Well...yes and no. It's a rye whiskey in that rye is part of the mash bill (approximately 30%), but unlike American rye, it doesn't constitute the majority. Instead, the traditional pot still blend of malted and unmalted barley makes up the rest. This results in a remarkably unique profile, characterized by both single pot still qualities and the spicy, slightly herbal notes that rye contributes. The nose features notes of shortbread, chocolate, lemon zest, sea salt, coconut, cinnamon, clove, and a very slight hint of dill. The palate begins with a very malt-forward shortbread, salted caramel, and chocolate profile, with light salt and citrus in the middle, and then...bam, the rye notes suddenly appear with caraway, cinnamon, clove, and dill right at the end. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and coating, but not quite as rich as a pure single pot still. This is quite distinctive, at least for me, in the world of whiskey, especially Irish. At $40 or less per bottle, it's also a good value. Cheers!

Nose: Butter, pears, and fresh green herbs. Then comes pleasant malt and buttered toast. A second pass reveals more rye spice, though thankfully without the dill/fennel I typically associate with ryes. For some reason, it evokes the scent of walking through a humid pine/fir forest after rainfall – that earthy, resinous aroma. Palate: Malty sweetness with a substantial kick of spices, similar to mint, rye, and the blend of cinnamon/allspice I detect in single pot stills. A light citrus/pine note hovers above the creamy malt. Finish: Long, it makes the tongue water and dries the edges. It lingers through waves of toasty malt, butter, and vanilla cream. A pleasant tingle on the sides of the tongue is a welcome sensation. Conclusion: Amazing! It perfectly combines delicious maltiness with robust spiciness from both single pot still and rye (but without the unpleasant dill/cilantro/fennel found in American ryes). I am certainly pleased to have another bottle on hand.

43% ABV Nose: Vanilla, honeydew melon, slight butterscotch, slight caramel apple, very mild rye spice. Taste: Rather delicate and rounded yet rich on the palate with toffee, melon, that classic Irish pot still grain note, and again a light kick of rye spice. It develops into sweet golden apple, a soft pepper tingle, and vanilla/caramel. Finish: Medium and warming, with hints of dark chocolate, pear, and faded spices from the rye. Oh, and a tiny copper penny note right at the end. Value: $35-45 USD. Difficult decision! See below. Final thoughts: This isn't your average rye. The spice is quite muted and balanced with sweet tropical fruits and vanilla. This is one of the easiest drinking ryes available. Overall, it's an intriguing pour that could easily frustrate fans of high-rye content, intrigue rye sippers, and introduce newcomers to rye. 3/5 Recommend trying or buying a bottle if the price is good.

Nose presents sour green apple, ginger, clove, and a prickly cinnamon-rye. Spearmint leaf. Complex. Warm salt water initially on the palate, which remains on the lips. Honey and corn syrupy elements. Medium burn. Apple skins. Black pepper. A hint of peat, but it arrives late. An earthy base: brown leaves. With a droplet: The corn and sharp spice of the rye cut through. Spearmint, cinnamon, almost Christmas-like. The spice is certainly prominent. With a large ice cube: the CINNAMON is overpowering; forget your Fireball next time and choose this. Spearmint, spicy leaves. There's definitely an autumnal, POTPOURRI characteristic here, though I've been detecting potpourri frequently lately for some reason. BLACK LICORICE and anise dominate the later stages.