1776 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Sherry Casks
James E Pepper 1776 Rye Finished in PX Sherry Casks is just MGP distilled 95/5 rye whiskey that JEP sourced and then finished it for a couple of months in ex-PX Sherry casks. Simple, but still magical; the magic of it all comes in the combination of what these two each bring to the table.Finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks. Rich flavor and subtle complexity; notes of dark chocolate, raisins, molasses, fruitcake and rye spice.
The nose of the James E Pepper 1776 Rye Finished in PX Sherry Casks is a tad light. It’s good, layered and pleasant, but comes across on the lighter side of things while staying rye and spice forward with a sweet kicker. The palate, on the other hand, is where this whiskey sings. It’s heavy, dark and deep with a thick layer of dark PX sherry sweetness balancing the oak and dilly rye spice.
This is a solid sipping rye all around. It’s warming, balanced, multi-faceted and if it had more of a nose it would be the kind of whiskey that would be hard to put down. It’s well crafted, I just wish it was a bit more mature to further round everything out and increase the depth.
EYE
Ruddy caramel,
NOSE
Dilly rye, cinnamon, oak, char, cocoa, citrus, tobacco and some dark fruit.
PALATE
Dilly rye, brown sugar, dark fruit, sherry sweet, candied citrus, snickerdoodles and light bits of herbal and leather.
FINISH
Long – Dilly rye, oak, citrus, leather and dark fruit.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, full body and an oily feel.
