Why so limited? Well, when it sells out instantly from anywhere from a $449 to a $800 price tag, there's probably some good whiskey within. How do you know when one of these rarities is hitting your area, though? How many 'connections' do you need to find it? If it were truly an "IYKYK" world, these would never have to go through a retail partner, would they? The best of the best barrels would sit in personal collections, being sipped off for the next hundred years.
Thanks to visionaries like Pablo Moix, Rare Character is bringing these barrels to the well-educated public. Education. That's how you know when one of these gems is ready to hit your glencairn. Pay attention. Read, support, and revere the best independent whiskey reviewers of our generation. There are good people trying to connect you with the right whiskey if you stop to listen.
You might be wondering what gets me excited in the whiskey world a decade into my own tasting journey. When so many enthusiasts seem to be falling out of the industry, I'm still finding things to love. Admittedly, I've also turned to dusties, as many of us do when the same-old gets same-old. I enjoy pre-prohibition whiskey, Pennsylvania ryes, and anything pot distilled, but I really get excited when a knowledgeable friend goes out of their way to let me try something truly exceptional.
So what does one seek out to continue to impress passionate whiskey enthusiasts? What could you possibly bring to your next bottle share or intimate tasting in 2024? You'll draw no ire with a bottle of Brook Hill in tow, I can confirm. This one was passed around fervently at a recent meeting of the minds, where it was greeted with raised eyebrows and a whole lotta wows from my circle of friends. Ready for a review? I know I am. Let's dive in to the latest and greatest from Rare Character.
Company on Label: Rare Character Whiskey Company
Whiskey Type: Straight rye whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Indiana rye mash bill
Proof: 132°
Age: 11 years
Further identification: This is Fresco, single barrel number 1709, a special selection from Pablo Moix; the bottle under review is bottle 67/69
Nose: Leading with lemon custard cake, silky peach flambé, and vanilla bean pound cake—my heart and mind immediately melt into this glass. Hints of black pepper, maple-glazed ham, and rosemary produce an instant classic; this is a complex rye for the ages. Leaning in on piney, woodsy tones, I find myself transported to the great wilderness of Alaska, somewhere that pinnacle ryes like pre-prohibition Sam Thompson often take me to. Long inhales let you know this is aged to perfection: aromas of old, creaky floorboards, good diner coffee, lemon hard candy, reduced beurre blanc, and allspice dram are well integrated and unctuously presented. There is little evidence of the proof showing up in the nose, but it's not lacking in volume in the least. Let's go in for a taste.
Coming back from a sip reveals aromas of the verdant spring forests of the Pacific Northwest after a rain. Flan, pine, and rich buttery biscuits are all impressive layers here. It's woody to the max, without overdoing it; put it somewhere in that 2020 George T. Stagg range with linen, woodshop aromas, and bowling alley blues. Butterscotch pudding is a lovely completion to the pour before the empty glass reveals notes of lemon tea, potpourri, vintage whiskey, and American Spirit mellow yellows.
Palate: My first taste is zesty and bright, leading with red licorice, lime agua fresca, juicy grapefruit, and raspberry chamomile tea. The mouthfeel is wonderfully oily, thick, coating, resinous, and delicious, as lemon tang and caviar impress the senses. It's got this earthiness that calls for an adventure, but a classiness that says, "How about champagne instead?" The linger is long and tingly in the lips and gums—way more high-flung and exciting than any bourbon in recent memory. Subsequent sips are buttery, bold, and bright on the tongue. This drinks vintage, level, bougie, and blissful. The finish yields an unquantifiable duration of coffee ice cream, sweet Jimmies (sprinkles for you non-New Englanders), and Pillsbury crescent rolls. Yum.
TL;DR: Eye widening, truly divine whiskey; if rye is on the come up, this is the act to follow
Rating: 5/5
This whiskey is nuts. It handily blows away the "Want" rye barrel that was distributed in Massachusetts by a pretty strong margin, and that's saying something for this whiskey to be stomping on the number 6 spot on the top 24 rye whiskeys list that we put together at the end of August. Brook Hill is most definitely going down in the history books when we look back at another golden era in whiskey. Sip this alongside Backpackers by Childish Gambino.
