Great Jones Distillery Co. Empire Rye Review
Spirit.Ed: Great Jones Distilling Co. Rye Packs Flavorful Punch at Its Proof Point [Review]
The great American whiskey revival over the last 25 years or so has led to many great craft distilleries and smaller operations producing product that rivals those made in the famous distilleries of Kentucky. Great Jones Distilling Co., Manhattan’s first distillery since Prohibition, has a collection of core whiskies in its lineup, and we got to try out their delightful Empire Rye.
There are so many rules about the best times of year to have bourbon over rye, and while I generally agree that there are times where the season dictates the pour, one should drink what they feel like at any time. This was my approach to trying Great Jones Distilling Co.’s Empire Rye right at the tail end of the spring season. Sure, I’ve had it told to me several times that rye works better in the cooler months due to its warming spice finish and less sweet flavor. So color me surprised to find that I saw the vision of having rye on a hot, sunny day and a cool, starry night.
I’d like to begin this review of Empire Rye by explicitly stating that this is my singular experience with the whiskey, and it may not reflect yours. Further, I don’t profess to be an expert, just someone who wants to learn the finer points of adult beverages and share them with our audience.
The Empire Rye specs state that this whiskey was aged for four years and made from rye grain exclusively harvested in New York, and spent time in American oak barrels. There isn’t a mash bill breakdown on its site, but I suppose it doesn’t need that as a 100% rye.
On the first pour, the younger age statement could lend to the honey-tinged hue of the whiskey. On the nose, there is some kind of fall-grown fruit like pear or apple, and a touch of light baking spice. Time in the glass renders the nose sweet, almost like a wheated bourbon, but with a faint pepper kick.
On the first sip, I caught the familiar rye spice that makes cocktails that call for the spirit shine, but also more of those aforementioned fruit flavors and perhaps a bit of cinnamon. The finish was calming in some sense, and went down without as much of a burn. This could be the proof point of 90, which makes it approachable as a neat pour and versatile in mixing.
Because I fancy an Old Fashioned made with rye whiskey, my next taste test involved making one using Angostura bitters, rich simple syrup made from demerara sugar, and the requisite orange twist. As evidenced in the photo below, this was had as the blazing heat of the day was on its way to an end. The whiskey made its presence known in the glass, but I had a preference between the two experiences.
I preferred having this whiskey neat, and it could be that I was in work mode and not relaxation mode. I was too busy taking notes to truly enjoy it. I will be making a Manhattan with this whiskey next, as I think this is a fantastic cocktail base. However, this whiskey will have a place on my bar as a nice sipper at the end of a shift.
Is it the best rye whiskey in the world? I haven’t had that many to say so. But Great Jones Distilling Co.’s Empire Rye is certainly worth a purchase if you’re in the market for a rye that packs a flavorful punch for its proof point.
Learn more about Great Jones Distilling Co. here.
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Photo: D.L. Chandler/Great Jones Distilling
