Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review

Middle West Spirits
Dark Pumpernickel
Straight Rye Whiskey
96 Proof
SRP: $46.99
Review

Please enjoy our Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review!

I first tried Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye a few years ago. However, that bottle was a barrel strength store pick, so I didn’t have a great sense of what their standard offering was like — and I was excited to finally find out!

A Unique Grain

According to the brand: “Our Straight Rye Whiskey is America’s first Dark Pumpernickel Rye Whiskey. This unique grain lends a softer spiciness than the rye most commonly used in rye whiskey.”

The Details – Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review

• Grain Bill: Dark pumpernickel rye, non-GMO open-pollinated yellow corn, soft red winter wheat, and 2-row barley (4-grain rye whiskey)
• Mash Bill: 80% Rye, 10% Corn, 5% Wheat, 5% Malted Barley
• Cask Types: Toasted and charred American white oak
• Aged: At least 4 years (per the distillery’s website)
• Location of Distillation: Columbus, OH

Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: A nice balance of sweet candy and floral notes, fresh rye bread, and rye spices up front. Later on, mild tart orange citrus becomes evident. The alcohol vapor is appropriate for the proof.
👉🏻 Taste: Sweet light caramel, rye spices, and mild tart orange citrus.
👉🏻 Finish: A burst of rye bread flavor with rye spices, mild tannins, mild sweet oak, and a touch of white pepper spice. Later on, the mouthfeel grows increasingly dry with lingering flavors of tart orange citrus and mild dry wood. The finish is fairly long, leaving a pleasant warmth.

Summary

Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye has a name well suited to its taste. It offers a complex mix of layered flavors, combining sweet candy and floral notes with rye bread and rye spices up front. The rye bread notes become less prominent in the taste but return strongly in the finish. It’s interesting how the tart orange citrus grows more noticeable with each sip, yet it blends nicely with the rye bread notes and spice. A mild degree of white pepper and dry wood round out the flavor profile nicely.

Conclusion – Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review

Just knowing this whiskey’s name makes it difficult not to have some preconceived notions about its flavor, but I’m really enjoying its richness—especially those rye bread notes—regardless of whether that’s due to the power of suggestion or not. If you’re a fan of full-flavored rye whiskey and are looking for something different from the well-known 95/5 Indiana ryes, Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye is one you’ll want to try. Have you tried it? What did you think? 🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review! Next, read this related article: Old Elk Distillery Acquired By Middle West Spirits.

NOTE: This bottle was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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