Established in 1780, during the American Revolution, the Pepper family brand is the oldest brand of whiskey made in Kentucky. The brand was fondly called Old '1776', by its scion, the Colonel James E. Pepper. The award-winning 1776 label was launched in 2012 in partnership with other distilleries to revive the old brand and has since gone on to much acclaim in the world of whiskey.

Sensory Notes

Complex & Flavorful; notes of mint, cloves, eucalyptus, chocolate, & honey. Our most popular whiskey; a great sipper neat or on the rocks, and makes the perfect Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

Awards / Accolades

2021 - Gold Medal; San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2020 - Best Rye Whiskey under $40 - Whiskey Critic, Fred Minnick Blind Tasting

2020 - 91 pts; International Wine and Spirits Competition

2019 - Double Gold Medal; San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2018 - Gold Medal; New York World Spirits Competition

Round and bright, yet zesty and juicy, blood orange's dual personality blends effortlessly with the warm vanilla and spice undertones found only in the best American whiskey. A pairing so perfect you'll be sure to do a double-take!

Wilderness Trail Rye Whiskey, crafted in Kentucky, showcases meticulous attention to detail and a balanced flavor profile. Made from a mash bill of rye, corn, and malted barley, it offers a smooth and complex taste with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak, complemented by subtle hints of spice. Aged in new, charred oak barrels, it embodies the rich tradition of Kentucky distilling, making it a favorite among whiskey enthusiasts for its quality and depth of flavor.

About the Brand

Who is crazy enough to start a whiskey company from scratch, in the hills of West Virginia, in a world filled with hundred-year-old Kentucky distilleries? Folks with a fiercely independent spirit, that’s who.

At Smooth Ambler, tradition isn’t a recipe we follow. Our company is literal proof of solid Appalachian know-how. That’s when the hard-working, creative, and resourceful folks of West Virginia come together to make something beautiful (and damn good) that no one else thought possible.

We didn’t just set out to make award-winning whiskey. We also set out to create a source of pride for West Virginians everywhere.

To embrace the best of everything around us - the land, the people, and the resources – to create a business that would make a difference by providing opportunities for the people in our community.

And the way we do it is simple, we do what we think is right, every day. We don’t look to see what our competitors are doing, we don’t look at the past, we do it by being honest, embracing diversity, and creating relationships built on trust.

It’s not complicated, it's the only way we know how to do it.

So yeah, we’re not from Kentucky, but if you couldn’t already tell, we like it that way. Because it turns out you can make bourbon in West Virginia, too. And you don’t need a family name or recipe to make that award-winning whiskey, you just need a fiercely independent spirit. - JL

Our Founders Cask Strength Series is a homemade juice that lets the West Virginia seasons do their thing, and we like that pace. Our mild climate and infusion cooking method makes our rye hit different. It might just take you a second to put your finger on it. Perhaps a second sip?
Our Founders are lovingly sharing this rye recipe with y’all, it’s your choice to share it with your friends, or keep it all to yourself.

Notes: Toasted Oak, Toffee, Sweet Black Tea, Subtle Herb Spice

This is the newest release in our Reserve Series line for Spring 2023. Our craft requires careful aging and thoughtful blending, and this 8-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey embodies the power of both. After aging our rye in new charred American white oak barrels for at least 8 years, our distillers crafted this complex rye with notes of dried cherries, clove, and smoked vanilla on the nose. A perfect balance of sweet and spice, this rye whiskey has a bold palate with flavors of candied ginger, sweet orange, molasses, and nut brittle.

This bottle had an original release in 2021 which earned a Gold Medal from the ASCOT Awards and a Double Gold from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Our Sagamore Spirit Reserve Series celebrates the legacy of Maryland distilling, with an unyielding focus on excellence from start to finish. Interested in future releases? Sign-up to become a Whiskey Thief!

This product just started shipping to all markets where Sagamore Spirit is sold so updates are pending to search for it on our Find Rye.

Tasting Notes

PALATE: Candied ginger, sweet orange, molasses, and nut brittle

PROOF: 111.4 (55.7% ABV)

AGE: 8 Years

UNCUT & UNFILTERED
Experience Emerald Giant straight from the barrel in this limited edition cask strength offering. Aged for a minimum of four years in the temperate climate of the Northern California coast, explore new heights of Redwood Empire’s craft.

CASK STRENGTH EMERALD GIANT
GPS: 41.20020, - 124.00050 | HEIGHT: 359 FT. TALL | AGE: 1,180 YEARS OLD

Named after the fastest growing Redwood in the world.

PROFILE

COLOR: Burnt orange.

NOSE: Delicate herbal tea, soft cinnamon, dried orange peel.

PALATE: Earl Grey tea, viscous, dark chocolate coffee beans, warm spice finish.

MASH BILL: 94% Rye 5% Malted Barley 1% Wheat

AGE: A blend of 4 to 6 year old Ryes

AWARDS

96 POINTS: Tasting Panel 2022

For nearly 220 years, the Tuthilltown Gristmill located off Albany Post Road in Gardiner, New York used waterpower to mill local grains into flour. In 2001. Ralph Erenzo acquired the property and together with a partner, converted one of the mill's granaries into a distillery. At the time, Erenzo had little experience distilling spirits. After purchasing a furnace from eBay and a German copper-pot still that arrived without instructions, Erenzo attempted to distill a batch of vodka using apple scraps from a nearby apple-slicing plant in the Hudson Valley. Soon thereafter, Tuthilltown Spirits began experimenting with whiskey. "Our first aged spirit was an experiment that turned out quite well indeed," says Erenzo. "And since we are a small batch shop, we can change direction overnight. We also realized early that whiskey was coming back, in particular the interest in straightforward aged spirits; people are just tired of the same old thing. And we copied no one." Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey is the first rye whiskey to be distilled in New York since Prohibition. It is made exclusively from rye grains that are harvested by farmers situated less than ten miles from the distillery. After the grains arrive, they are milled and mashed at the distillery before being fermented for nearly a week. Following fermentation, the rye is distilled twice through Tuthilltown Spirits' 800-liter, hand-assembled German copper-pot still. After distillation, the whiskey is poured into 3-gallon and 14-gallon charred American oak casks. The casks are then laid to rest within a warehouse that is lined with heaters that power the distillery's stills. As a result, when the stills are running during the day, the warehouse becomes incredibly hot, causing the oak casks to expand and interact with the whiskey. In addition, each night, when the stills are dormant and the temperature cooler, speakers, which have been placed throughout the warehouse, play loud rap music with deep bass. The deep bass agitates the whiskies, and causes the barrels themselves to experience micro-expansions and contractions. This sonic aging process unique in the industry adds to the interaction between the oak and the whiskey. After a slumber of up to two years, each batch of Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey is brought to proof, before each bottle is filled, sealed and numbered by hand. Hudson Manhattan Rye earned the Silver Medal at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and earned a score of 90-95 points from Wine Enthusiast. "We're not making whiskey the 'traditional' way, as defined for 80 years by the big whiskey producers," says Erenzo. "We are making it the way their grandfathers made it. We do all the work, hands-on, from scratch. All of our product are handmade." 

Ezra Brooks is distilled using the highest quality ingredients, ages the old fashioned way and charcoal filtered to deliver a beautifully mellow flavor and smooth finish.

TASTING NOTES: Slightly sweet and oaky tones with hints of vanilla and honey. Finishes with a warm touch of spice and tobacco

100% local grain to the still; distilled and aged on site in Indiana at MGP where the whiskey ages 25% slower than on the West Coast and conforms to a traditional bourbon character of complex grain expression. Unique for MGP is the 4 grain bourbon, the corn and rye provide the backbone, the wheat uplifts both aroma & flavor, and the barley harmonizes the three. Straight Bourbon Whiskey, straight from the barrel, assembled, proofed and into the bottle. No charcoal or cold filtration. 49% ABV maintains persistent bourbon and grain flavors in an old fashioned, mint tulip or on ice.

Port Finish – World’s Best Rye Whiskey

Awarded as the World’s Best Rye Whiskey at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

We finished our Straight Rye Whiskies in the finest European and American Port barrels. The result is a perfect blend of plum, cherry, and baking spices that conclude with a full, dry finish. This exceptional whiskey should be savoured and shared.

Tasting Notes

PALATE: Bold black cherry jam with dark fruits. A dry finish complimented with a touch of smooth caramel.

PROOF: 101.2 (50.6% ABV)

AGE: 4 - 5 Years

The first release of A. Overholt features a Monongahela Mash. Centuries ago, farmer-distillers in the Monongahela Valley cultivated rye that became the first American Whiskey, renowned for a big robust flavor with notes of warm spice. Inspired by our Pennsylvania roots, as straightforward as ever.

COLOR: Clover Honey
AROMA: Caramel, subtle layers of sandalwood and caraway
TASTING NOTES: Brown butter, honeysuckle, clove, seasoned oak
FINISH: Pleasant, lingering notes of warm rich baking spice

RYE 80% | MALTED BARLEY 20% | CORN 0%

Following the end of the American Revolutionary War, Johannes Reginald Beam emigrated from Germany to the United States and eventually settled in Kentucky County. At the time, Kentucky County was still considered part of Virginia and was overseen by a military governor named John J. Bowman. After settling in Kentucky, Beam began harvesting corn and set forth a family tradition by distilling the excess grains he harvested into whiskey. Since then, seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the eponymous company (the company is actually named after James Beam, who rescued it following Prohibition). Knob Creek Bourbon was created by Beam's grandson, Booker Noe, who after joining the family business in 1950 was promoted to Master Distiller just ten years later. Booker talked like a true Kentuckian and was known for his contagious personality, and through his launch of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection the collection includes Knob Creek as well as Basil Hayden's, Booker's and Baker's bourbons he is often credited as the father of the small batch bourbon movement. Knob Creek Bourbon takes its name from the small water source, Knob Creek, that ran through President Abraham Lincoln's childhood farm. Booker's vision for Knob Creek Bourbon was that of an honest, quality bourbon that could meet the standards strength, flavor, care, and patience of bourbon made before prohibition distressed the industry just decades earlier. Like Abraham Lincoln himself, Booker designed Knob Creek Bourbon, to be honest, unwavering and full of character. Knob Creek offers a solid core lineup of whiskeys and bourbons, all of which have made the brand one of the most popular labels on the market today. Rye Whiskey has made a huge comeback in the industry in recent years, and Knob Creek's Knob Creek Twice Barreled Rye starts out as Knob Creek's Best-in-Class Rye Whiskey before being transferred to a new, level 4 charred oak barrel for additional aging. This transforms the into a powerful spirit with enhanced oaky aromas. The whiskey's re-exposure to the flavorful, smoky fresh barrel char results in the pinnacle of harmony between spicy rye and oak from the secondary barrel-finish. 

Maker Notes

Careful maturation and thoughtful blending are on display in this 9-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey. After aging our rye in new charred American white oak barrels for at least 9 years, we created this blend that has aromas of peach preserves, graham crackers, and dark chocolate. Balancing sweet with spice, this rye whiskey has full flavors of orange zest, pecan pie, peppery honey, and cinnamon toast. Our Sagamore Spirit Reserve Series celebrates the legacy of Maryland distilling, with an unyielding focus on excellence from start to finish.

This exceptional product is available at Royal Batch, where you can experience top-quality selections and convenient shopping for swift delivery directly to your home.

Maker Notes

We selected barrel of the sweet, delicate 51% rye/ 45% corn/ 4% barley traditional straight rye and blended it with barrels of the big and bold 51% rye/ 49% malted barley straight rye. The end result is an upfront flavor profile that is beautifully sweet and rich with a luxurious mouthfeel. The finish has just enough cinnamon and rye spice to get your tongue tingling while the flavors from the malted barley, such as smoke and malt are still present, but softer and more subtle.

Burnside Black Bourbon Casked Rye Whiskey is finished in select Quercus Garryana casks and bottled at barrel strength.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Honey, vanilla, and spice. Baked apple, Brown sugar and butterscotch and complement layers of complex toasted oak aromas.

FLAVOR: Green grass, wildflower honey, toasted hazelnut, leather, honey caramel mids, mellow tannic finish.

DESCRIPTION
A combination of straight rye whiskey, a pinch of rock candy, raw honey, navel oranges and importantly, Angostura Bitters, it's like drinking the perfect Old Fashioned. Just pour over ice and enjoy. 

TASTING NOTES: Hints of citrus, honey, spice and bitters.

From The Brand

For Outstanding Whiskey REACH FOR THE STARS

At 15 STARS, we meticulously craft all our products by blending and flavor proofing the finest quality whiskey for extra complexity and interest. Sparing no expense or effort in our pursuit for great whiskey, we bottle our releases only when they meet our highest standards.

First West

A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys from America’s First West aged 6, 7, and 8 years.

Limited Release

Bottled at 105 Proof

Tasting Notes

Nose: An exquisite blend of aromas revealing layers of floral, dried fruit, and spice notes.

Palate: Dried apricot, ginger, cinnamon, green tea, and lavender lead to a rich palate showcasing the aged rye whiskey components. Deeper on the palate, hints of dark cocoa balance traditional herbal tea, honey, and tobacco.

Finish: A long finish balances light caramel with lingering ground pepper and rye spice. 

Limited Edition

Boxergrail Single Barrel

For our second Single Barrel release, we have hand-selected casks from an extremely limited number of Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey barrels. Each is a study in patience and creativity. To complement this one-of-a-kind whiskey, the packaging for each season of barrel releases will be unique and feature a different series of six original Limited Edition illustrations commissioned by our Founder, Kaveh Zamanian. The result is a true work of art inside and out that could only be bottled at cask strength.

Artist Series Labels

Six different label designs featuring artwork commissioned by our Founder, Kaveh Zamanian, from renown artist Sue Todd. Each 6-bottle case will contain a bottle with each label design.

Cask Strength

Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey with a sour mash rye mash bill bottled at full cask strength. Proof will vary by bottle - but will generally fall between 100 and 125.

Limited Edition

Approximately only 150-200 bottles produced at 750mL. Yield will vary by barrel.

The Barrel

Aged in #3, wood-fired, toasted & charred new American Oak barrels for 4+ years.

Work of Art

A one-of-a-kind work of art inside and out, Rabbit Hole Single Barrel is a private barrel selection platform that combines our commitment to originality and creativity in whiskey making with our passion for bringing to life original works of art.

Sue Todd

The bottles from all 10 barrels of Rabbit Hole’s Boxergrail Single Barrel release will feature the illustrations of the award-winning scratchboard illustrator Sue Todd. Kaveh commissioned Sue to create linocut prints of the classic Lewis Carroll characters and the result is six, vibrant illustrations featuring Alice, The White Rabbit, The Hatter, The Queen, The Catepillar and The Footman. Each six-bottle case will contain a bottle with each label design and features special glass and cork sourced exclusively for the Single Barrel program.

New Riff Distilling’s core Rye whiskey is full-bodied, offering hugely spicy character. Building upon America’s 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act - already the highest quality standard for aged spirits in the world - New Riff Rye is Bottled In Bond Without Chill Filtration. Featuring a unique mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye, it represents a new riff on our hallowed local Rye whiskey traditions. Aged four years in full-size 53-gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels, there are no shortcuts taken in its traditional production. All New Riff whiskeys are made with the full sour mash Kentucky Regimen; all carry an age statement and are always bottled without chill filtration.

Our distillers learned the black arts of the hardest whiskey in the world to make - the famed 95% Rye - under the direct tutelage of the distiller who mastered it in Indiana, Larry Ebersold of Seagram’s. Taking Master Larry’s instruction in hand, we put a riff on it to the tune of adding 5% malted rye, a unique twist that aids in pulling additional flavors out of the rye and adds a touch of the elegance of malted rye. New Riff Rye is splendid with a splash of water, and of course folds magnificently into classic Rye Manhattan and .

TASTING NOTES

Appearance: Extra rich, unfiltered deep amber color.

Nose: Spicy and detailed, showing mint, black pepper, and vanilla with hints of orange and oak.

Taste: Cinnamon spice, vanilla and sweet toffee moving into a bold mouth feel with rich Rye spice, caramel and toasted oak. Complex flavors drink older than four-year-old.

Finish: Bold Rye spice with vanilla buttercream and lingering brown sugar, plus a mineral-grassy Rye tone that fades slowly.

BOTTLED IN BOND WITHOUT CHILL FILTRATION

100% RYE (95% RYE, 5% MALTED RYE)

AGED AT LEAST 4 YEARS