By Richard Thomas
Rating: B
(Credit: Richard Thomas)
Minnesota’s Keeper’s Heart has released the second in its trio of Irish style American whiskey, following the American Pot Still Whiskey from earlier this year. Whereas the former was modeled on the signature Irish Pot Still whiskey style (i.e. made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley using pot still distillation), this second entry is a fundamentally American style made using certain staples of the Irish industry. Master Distiller Brian Nation, formerly of New Midleton (makers of Jameson), knows quite a bit about the latter. This is made from a mash of 90% rye and 10% malted rye and aged in new oak barrels, so basically American and in the Pennsylvania style. The Irish part is triple distillation in pot stills, rather than the beer still/column+pot used by the major American distillers or the hybrids so common in the craft sector. The only other distillery in America using triple distillation at scale, in fact, is Woodford Reserve.
One final Irish tie in is that, as a rye, it has a green label. Sorry, I could not resist.
The Whiskey
This 96 proof pour takes on a pale copper look in the glass. The nose is a blend of dry cereals, black pepper and clove. The palate takes a 45 degree turn from there, leading with toffee and caramel, but this underscored with baking spice notes. The finish runs for a short spell with spicy oak.
The Price
Keeper’s Heart Rye is priced at $50.
