American Whiskey Review #40: Rossville Union Barrel Proof

Image Credit: The Casks

Distillery: MGP

Region: Indiana

Price: Part of a tasting put on by Proof in Omaha, NE featuring a MGP Master Distiller

ABV: 56.3%, Cask Strength

Age: NAS, Blend of 5 and 6 year old whiskey

Color: 1.5, Auburn/Polished Mahogany.

Note: This is a review I found going through my notes that I hadn’t posted. The notes are from November of 2019 so it’s been a bit since I’ve had this whisky.

Nose: It’s nice and spicy. There’s a lot of pepper along with some nutmeg and clove. Fresh oak comes through strong as well.

Palate: The Christmas/baking spice notes that you expect from a high rye whiskey are all present here. They’re joined by some peanuts and salted caramel. There are little pops of sweetness that come up as well, largely thanks to the salted caramel.

Finish: Medium in length. More of the baking spices. It’s warm but doesn’t burn even at full proof. There’s something creamy right at the end as well.

Conclusion: If you’re a fan of high rye whiskies, this is one to try. MGP’s first distillery bottling (“the biggest distillery you’ve probably never heard of”, in the proud words of the speaker at this tasting event) of rye is a pretty good one. It’s chock full of the Christmas and baking spices that a high rye will give you and the little bits of salted caramel and peanut help keep this interesting and tasty. Would I buy a bottle? I actually don’t know what the price of this is, if it’s cheaper than a comparable WhistlePig, then absolutely.

Final Score: 80.

American Whiskey Review #40, Rye Review #10, Whisky Network Review #256

Scoring Legend:

• 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
• 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
• 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
• 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
• 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
• 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
• 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
• Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.