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13th Colony is a spirits producer located in Americus, Georgia and has been in operation for over 15 years now. Some of my more dedicated readers are probably expecting me to use this introduction as a springboard to talk shit about the things I’ve called them out for in the past. But I’m not going to do that for this review. Instead, I’ll be concentrating on the whiskey in the bottle.
13th Colony’s Rye Whiskey at a glance
If you didn’t know this before, 13th Colony sources all of their whiskey. They use wording “Produced by” instead of the words “Distilled by” on their labels, so it’s not just speculation. I’ve found posts from enthusiasts pointing out this labeling practice as far back as 10 years ago and they continue to respond with “we didn’t know we were doing that, but we’ll look into it.”
So where is 13th Colony sourcing their rye whiskey from? All signs point to MGP. In the past, 13th Colony has claimed the recipe used was 95/5 (and for a period of time, they claimed it was 96/4). Does that mean this rye whiskey will taste exactly like a standard MGP 95/5? It shouldn’t. The reason is because 13th Colony uses a couple of tricks to alter the profile of the whiskey. One of those tricks is inserting wood spirals into the barrels. They’ve admitted to using French Oak spirals for their rye whiskey and have used other wood – like maple – in their bourbon products.
They also allow their sourced barrels to mature for a longer length of time at their Georgia facility. The hot and humid summers really do a number on them. And by that, I mean the humidity levels have the unique effect of allowing more water content to evaporate in the barrels than alcohol. This has created some seriously high-proofed whiskies in the end. For example, All MGP bourbon and rye whiskey enters the barrel at 120 proof, but after the barrels are moved to Georgia, the heat and humidity sees their average proof raise above 130 proof.
Southern Rye vs Single Barrel Rye
13th Colony sells a standard rye whiskey they call “Southern Rye.” It is non-age stated (NAS), but rumored to be between 4 to 6 years old. Prior to being bottled, it’s cut to 95 proof. The single barrel offerings are allowed to age even longer – usually over 8 years old. I’ve seen a handful of these single barrels pop up on the secondary market and all of them have proofs over 130. Today’s bottle that I’m reviewing is 130.03 proof and is aged 8 years and 6 months.
I have previously been impressed by the flavor profile of 13th Colony’s Double Oaked Bourbon (even though rumors persist that it contains additives), so I’m interested to see how this rye whiskey tastes. As usual, I’ve sampled this neat in a glencairn.
Tasting Notes
Nose: A distinct aroma of waffles with maple syrup followed by Golden Grahams cereal. This is followed by melted milk chocolate, brown baking spices and vanilla bean. Each sniff I take is rewarded with a full array of sweet treats. It’s undeniably good, but is also a bit heavy-handed on delivery. Is this a case of “too much of a good thing?”
Palate: The sensation that I’m drinking a rye whiskey is immediately noticeable with underlying flavors that are distinctly “MGP 95/5.” I’m not complaining! Underneath a blanket of sweet treats (I’ll get to those in a minute) are slightly muted herbal and floral notes. However, pine needle flavors abound. As the dram goes on, the heat begins to poke through. Sharp notes of pepper begin to sting my tongue if I chew on it too long.
Citrus flavors like lemon and orange peel can be found in good amounts. Going back to those sweet notes, brown sugar, maple covered nuts and a hint of chocolate make this drink like a sweet dessert whiskey. On the tannic side are notes of leather and oak which are very dominant. I should point out that I don’t often find oak flavors in many MGP rye whiskies, but this one I do.
Finish: The heat lingers for a while but eventually dissolves into a world of sweets and candy. Peppermint candy canes dipped in chocolate accompany brown spice notes like nutmeg and allspice. There is a slight citrus aftertaste, too. But the oak flavors still command a large presence just like it did on the palate.
Score: 8.5/10
This is a fantastic rye whiskey. From smell to taste, it hit a lot of the notes I love to find in any whiskey. One of the things I think that MGP rye whiskey could use more of is oak and tannic notes. 13th Colony seems to have discovered a way to make sure that oak is at the forefront of their rye whiskey and I’m guessing it has to do with those wood spirals being added into it.
You’d probably be right to ask me why I didn’t award it a higher score. It’s hard to put into words, but it boils down to the depth of flavor that I find a little bit lacking. Sure, there are plenty of big, bold flavors and scents everywhere you look, but they’re all fighting for your attention. There is very little nuance beyond them which makes whiskey so rewarding to explore. If you’re the type of drinker who just wants their taste buds obliterated, then pay no attention to what I said.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not you’re a rye whiskey drinker or a bourbon drinker who’s not quite sure they like rye yet, this bottle has something for everyone. The proof is well-controlled and it drinks more like it’s been bottled at 115 proof, not 130. Plus, it’s chock full of flavors that you don’t normally find in a rye whiskey – which makes it unique enough to stand out at your next bottle share.
I still have trust issues with 13th Colony and feel that – at times – the flavors I tasted were a little too… artificial. But I also can’t deny that I enjoyed what I was tasting. So if you are able to look past that aspect, this is a bottle I recommend you buy.
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