Pikesville Straight Rye

​Pikesville Rye has a long history, going back to the 1890s, where it was first produced in Maryland. Things went on swimmingly at first but then things hit a bit of snag in 1920 when the USA introduced prohibition. After prohibition ended in 1933 the distillery kicked off again, seeing off all the competition to become the last Rye produced in Maryland. In more recent times the label has been taken over by Heaven Hill and production has now moved to Kentucky, where it is barrel aged for six years. The final bottled product sits at a whopping 55%, so this is a strong tipple.

Fox’s Tasting Notes
The first sip takes you to a dusty field in a Maryland farm yard on a hot day. The scent of nearby orchards fills the humid air, with a faint hint of a warm apple pie cooling on a window ledge.

Pikesville Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet spice
Palate: Fruity on first sip, then spicy. Hints of liquorice and oak
Finish: Vanilla and cinnamon smoothness

Average Price: £74.95
Rating: 9/10

Claiming a whooping 97.5 score in Jim Murray's 2016 Whisky bible this is certainly not a Whisky to dismiss lightly, it does however have the price tag to match. When you compare the price to other Ryes such as Rittenhouse, which retails around the £35 mark, I don't think you really get double the quality spirit for double the price. That being said, price aside it is a lovely drink that really needs to be enjoyed on ice to dilute that 55% abv down and open up those flavours.

The SilverFox