Raj Bhakta based WhistlePig and helped (re)popularize rye amongst American customers. With Bhakta, his eponymous second act in spirits, Raj has leaned into extremely aged brandy, rum, blends, and bourbon.
It seems, it was solely a matter of time earlier than a full-on rye launch was again on the desk.
Introduced in January 2024, Bhakta 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey is 10 yr, 8 month-old MGP rye completed in Calvados casks (of which Bhakta’s staff has seemingly loads to select from). It clocks in at 107.6 proof and is bottled in Vermont. In accordance with the model, round 800 circumstances in whole might be launched. At $149, it’s edging into very premium territory for rye whiskey — a pattern Bhakta himself largely pioneered within the WhistlePig days.
The corporate payments the discharge as “Raj’s return to rye”; let’s see the way it stacks up!
On the nostril, deep rye spice pairs with a sequence of funky, fruity notes for an aroma set that makes triangulating specifics just a little powerful. (However we’re at all times up for a problem!) Nutmeg, allspice, inexperienced apple skins, candied ginger, pecan pie, and contemporary puff pastry are all current. The nostril is equal elements spiced fruit and bready confection. There’s additionally a tiny trace of sulfur on the very again of these aromas, which is shortly overcome by tart apple. A minimum of on the nostril, brandy has finished a bit greater than merely kiss this rye.
Whereas Calvados bookends a conga line on the nostril, the palate is all about that 10-plus yr MGP rye. Acquainted natural dill, parsley, spearmint, and even sage circulate throughout the tongue hand-in-hand with baking spices. This 2013 classic rye doesn’t lean fairly as closely into the inexperienced, herbaceous notes as some similarly-aged 95/5 I’ve sampled not too long ago, maybe moderated partly by the brandy end. (And, one might theorize, barrel choice.) The extra restrained pop of natural freshness permits sweetness from each the grain and wooden to shine all of the extra clearly.
Calvados makes a reappearance on the end, the brandy contributing to a sweetness past what this rye may in any other case be able to. Paired with the lingering rye spice, it’s near unfiltered apple cider. However that sweetness dissipates somewhat shortly, the cider notes leaning drier than anticipated, leaving a phantom of apple brandy behind. On the very finish, a shocking uptick in ethanol results in a hotter-than-expected remaining observe.
Bhakta 2013 invitations on the nostril and dances on the tongue. It’s a downright scrumptious dram, with a mildly inconsistent end preserving it from hovering even increased. Although we didn’t get to pattern the unfinished whiskey for this launch, it appears Bhakta’s end added one other dimension to an already presumably good rye. With whiskey again on the board, we’ll be paying shut consideration.
107.6 proof.
A- / $149 / bhaktaspirits.com
Bhakta Rye 2013
$149
