Peerless Double Oaked Rye (750Ml)

Peerless Double Oak Rye comes from the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. in downtown Louisville. Peerless makes every drop itself, from grain to bottle, and never sells sourced whiskey. The rye is a sweet mash spirit. It ages in one new charred oak barrel, then moves into a second new barrel. That gives the whiskey two full rounds of flavor from the wood.

The tasting team picks barrels with strong grain, fruit and herbal notes for this release. It is bottled at barrel proof, with no water added. It is never chill-filtered, so the natural oils stay in. Proof changes from batch to batch, so check the label on your bottle.

On the nose you get roasted nuts, citrus zest and sweet oak. The palate starts with toasted sugar and bold oak. Spicy cinnamon and sweet grasses follow, and the citrus takes on an almost tea-like feel. Later sips bring warm leather and rich tobacco. Other tasters find raisin, dark chocolate and a wisp of candied smoke. The finish circles back to sweet oak, and the mouthfeel turns thick and chewy.

The small batch version won Gold at the 2024 American Distilling Institute International Spirits Competition. Sip it neat at first, then add a few drops of water or a big ice cube. It also makes a bold Old Fashioned. Try it with dark chocolate, smoked meats or a sharp cheese.

This bottle is for whiskey lovers who like full-bodied spirits with plenty of oak. At barrel proof it is strong, so take your time with it.