Blue Run - High Rye - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$69.99
Blue Run – High Rye – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Collection: Fall Batch – 10/02/21 / Bottle 3265-3718
Proof: 111
Age: NAS – 4+
Distillery: Sourced from Unknown / Bottled by Blue Run Spirits LLC
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – “High Rye”
Mash: 65% Corn, 30% Rye, 5% Barley
Website: Blue Run Spirits
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: The Rye Spice is evident and there’s a herbal quality to it similar to Oregano. I get Mild Cinnamon and Mild Brown Sugar underneath.
Taste/Palate: Slightly Dry. Starts off very lusty. It’s a little hot and spicy in the beginning and then the rest of the profile cools off as you continue through the palate and finish. The Rye Spice shows up first. There’s a quick transition into baking spices – All Spice and Cinnamon. As the spices fade you start to pick up some sweeter notes but they are muted a little – Cream Cheese Frosting and Caramel.
Finish: In the finish the spices are carried through and dominant and in the tail end there’s a little Vanilla Cream that shows up.
Verdict: I enjoyed this dram and feel it was fairly priced at the store at $69. I do feel this particular batch could use some more age and it’s definitely not perfect, but Blue Run has many other products that would satisfy this request. This was a very solid pour neat, but due to the rye spice and slight dryness it was very good in a High End Cocktail. Given Blue Run is very difficult to find I likely won’t be using this as a standard mixer any time soon.
The Story: I’ve had this brand in my cross hairs for a little while. I finally came across a bottle while traveling through Illinois. In the case they had the Cask Strength Rye Whiskey that’s from the same family of barrels that took home the San Fran Gold and they had the High Rye Bourbon (reviewed here) on the shelf. Since I’ve already reached my allotment of Bourbon purchases during “Bourbon Season” (Nov and Dec) I choose the less expensive of the two options. The Rye Whiskey was $169 and the High Rye Bourbon was $69. Figured I would test out the brand’s young bourbon before dropping 3 figures on their more expensive variations.
The Distillery’s Story: Blue Run is new to the scene. Like many others they are dipping into established distillery’s supplies and creating their own blend and bottling under their label. Like many distilleries they do this to create a revenue stream while they create their own product pipeline. Blue Run came out in October of 2020 with a 13 year sourced release that was highly acclaimed. They are putting together some great sourced blends and people are taking notice.
Specific to this High Rye Offering the Blue Run site states: “Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon is a small-batch whiskey and is the first Blue Run product with Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge serving as the contracted Master Distiller (on all previous Blue Run products, except Golden Rye, Jim served as the Liquid Advisor).”
Final Verdict: 2021 Seems to be the year of the blends. It’s getting more and more common and there are some real winners out there. The Kentucky Straight – High Rye – Bourbon Whiskey by Blue Run is a affordable and very powerful variation within a diverse line of products. The next time I see one of their higher age options I will feel much more comfortable footing the bill to try what else this brand has to offer. I also really like the Butterfly with different colors concept.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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