Black Market Spirits 5 Year Old Rye Whiskey

Black Market Spirits 5 Year Old Rye Whiskey brings Kentucky whiskey heritage together with the brand’s California base. The exact-unit description identifies a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, with the whiskey aged for three years in Kentucky before continuing to five years and being bottled at 98 proof. Black Market Spirits describes its partner as Kentucky’s tenth-oldest distillery and presents the release as a meeting of time-tested Kentucky techniques and a relaxed California perspective. This 750 mL bottle is released at 49% ABV (98 proof).

The producer’s tasting notes open with light sandalwood on the nose, joined by toasted coconut and caramel. The palate moves toward sweet crème brûlée, mild brown spice, and another layer of light coconut, giving the rye a rounded body around its grain-driven spice. Warm brown spice leads the finish, while tannins pull the whiskey toward a slightly dry close. The arc balances dessert-like caramelized sweetness with wood, spice, and a firmer final structure, preserving the contrast between the rye’s sweet middle and its warm, drying finish.