Review #436; Rye #44: Driftless Glen Rye 3yr (T8ke / Seelbach’s Select)

This is a single barrel rye from Driftless Glen selected by t8ke for Seelbachs. This comes from Wisconsin craft distiller Driftless Glen. With a mashbill of 75% Rye, 12.5% distillers Malt, and 12.5% Caramel Malt it stands out with a different take on its mashbill. This was aged for 3 years and 11 months in a 30 gallon new oak barrel. Let’s see how it holds up

ABV: 51.5%

Nose: Rye Spice, slight green apple, caramel, sharpie marker, peppery, slight oak spice.

Palate: Medium-thinnish mouthfeel. Rye spice, slight sharpie, green apple, oak spice, butterscotch,

Finish: Medium length. Warm and dry. Oak spice, rye spice, light green apple, fades into a black peppery rye spice tinge.

Rating: 5/10

For an under 4 year craft rye this is pretty impressive. Its not herbal like the Alberta rye tends to lean, nor is it very dill pickle like MGP. It has its own green apple, slight sweetness thing going on. The youth is apparent but not in a bad way. Overall, this is just fine, but if this is what Driftless Glen can put out at around 4 years, I can’t wait to see what they can do at 6, 8, and 10 years. It’s even more impressive when you consider his came out of a 30 gallon barrel and not a standard 53 gallon barrel. The only knocks for this are that sharpie marker note and the slightly thnninsh mouth feel.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect