Ole George
Cask Strength Single Barrel
Straight Rye Whiskey
Barrel #532
127.8 Proof
Grand Traverse Distillery
Review
Please enjoy my Grand Traverse Ole George Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye Review!
My first introduction to Grand Traverse Distillery was during an Our Flagship Whiskey event put on by the ABV Network and Steve Akley. Presenting for Grand Traverse Distillery was master distiller Landis Rabish, son of Kent Rabish, the distillery’s founder. At the event I had the opportunity to taste their Ole George Rye Whiskey, and looking back at my notes, one of my comments was “I really like this one”. So when we were up in Traverse City, Michigan recently, I had to pay them a visit.
The Mash Bill
The Ole George Rye is made from 100% rye using a 95% rye and 5% malted rye mashbill. it is aged from 4-5 years. The “standard” version is bottled at 100 proof, but as you can see, this single barrel is a bit higher at 127.8 proof.
Tasting Notes
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
👉🏻Nose: Baking spices, cedar, brown sugar, stone fruits like dark plums and cherry with a bit of Bazooka bubble gum; a hint of gingerbread; the alcohol is definitely noticeable
👉🏻Taste: Baking spices, pine, black pepper, caramel, brown sugar
👉🏻Finish: The flavors all continue; the baking spices remain strong and the black pepper builds to a crescendo; the pine changes back to cedar, and there’s a hint of fruit punch fruitiness, but just a hint; long finish with a fairly pronounced Kentucky (Michigan?) hug.
Summary
I have tried Grand Traverse Ole George Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye a few times now. Initially at the distillery when I decided to buy the bottle, and a few times once I got home. I absolutely love this rye, and it rivals anything I have tried. Unfortunately, it’s a single barrel, so unless you get this same one, your results will vary, but hopefully they won’t vary by too much. If you are looking for a high octane rye that packs a lot of flavor and a bit of a punch, then look no further. This rye is for you!
Well, that’s it for our Grand Traverse Ole George Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye Review! If you want to learn some more about the distillery, check out my one minute Grand Traverse Distillery Tour video! Have you had any of Grand Traverse’s whiskeys? What did you think? Cheers!🥃
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?🙂 If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
Would you like to read about another rye? Check out our JW Rutledge High Plains Rye Review!