Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Review

Blue Run
Kentucky Straight
High Rye Bourbon Whiskey
111 Proof
MSRP: $90
Review

I hope you enjoy my Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Review!

Buy Blue Run Bourbon at Frootbat!

This is a very exciting bourbon for Blue Run Spirits. Blue Run High Rye Bourbon was contract distilled at Castle & Key Distillery, with Jim Rutledge as the contracted Master Distiller. For their previous sourced bourbons, Jim Rutledge served as the Liquid Advisor, and approved the barrels which were selected and used. This time, he was actually in charge of the distillation. For anyone who may not be familiar with Jim Rutledge, he was a former Master Distiller at Four Roses and a member of the inaugural class of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Of course, Four Roses is known for their high rye mash bills and this mash bill is certainly high rye. It’s 65% corn, 30% rye and 5% malted barley, something Jim Rutledge is certainly accustomed to working with. So what’s it like?

Tasting Notes – Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛌 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉Nose: Baking spices with nutmeg noticeable, rich caramel, light honey, some Graham cracker, stone fruits – like black cherries and dark plums, hint of anise and maybe a touch of ginger, light oak; light – medium alcohol
👉Taste: Black tea, simple syrup sweetness, soft caramel, hint of light toast and ginger towards the end
👉Finish: The flavors continue, some black pepper and char build; black tea and sweetness lingers. Fairly long finish. Moderate burn

This is a fairly complex bourbon, particularly the nose. The high rye is evident in the nose, but there are softer, fuller and sweeter flavors as well. The taste becomes a bit more dry overall, but there’s a sweetness too. It is not until the finish that the 111 proof becomes more evident.

Summary

I really didn’t know what to expect from this bourbon. I have tried a few of Castle and Key’s own ryes and had a sneak peak at their bourbon, but this tastes like none of those. Nor is it particularly similar to some of the other brands who also distill there. I should have known Jim Rutledge would have created a unique high rye bourbon, given his prior accomplishments. Needless to say, this is quite different from the prior Blue Run bourbon releases, but it is nonetheless quite good.

I hope you enjoyed my Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Review! Would you like to read about another Blue Run Whiskey? Check out my Blue Run Golden Rye Review! Cheers!🥃

Buy Blue Run Bourbon at Frootbat!

*Thank you to Mike Montgomery of Blue Run Spirits for sending me this sample! However that in no way influenced my review.

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