In 1898, Teddy Roosevelt a Long Island native organized the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, commonly known as the "Rough Riders," in preparation for the Spanish-American War. The regiment comprised 1,250 volunteers from across the country, including cowboys, Native Americans and other pioneers of the West. After seeing action in Cuba, the Rough Riders earned a decisive victory at the Battle of San Juan Hill before returning to Long Island. Upon their return, the soldiers celebrated their victory and presented Colonel Roosevelt with a small bronze statue of a cowboy riding a bucking horse. "There could have been no more appropriate gift from such a regiment," wrote Roosevelt later. "Most of them looked upon the bronze with the critical eyes of professionals. I doubt if there was any regiment in the world which contained so large a number of men able to ride the wildest and most dangerous horses." Crafted by Long Island Spirits, Rough Rider The Big Stick Cask Strength Rye Whiskey pays homage to Roosevelt's First United States Volunteer Cavalry, and reminds us of the President's old foreign policy adage, Speak softly and carry a big stick. The whiskey is crafted from 100% Long Island winter rye, which is planted on local farms to maintain the sustainable characteristics of the soils following the harvesting of Long Island's iconic potatoes. Aged in 30-gallon American oak barrels, Rough Rider The Big Stick Cask Strength Rye Whiskey is micro-blended from just eight barrels before being bottled at 121 proof. Rough Rider The Big Stick Cask Strength Rye Whiskey has an aroma of toasted rye bread, marmalade and cinnamon sugar, which leads to notes of malt chocolate and chile peppers on the palate. The finish is a touch warm and very smooth. "It's part of the pioneer spirit to try to do something by putting your own signature on it," says Richard Stabile, Long Island Spirits founder and master distiller.

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." 

Maker Notes

Elijah Pepper began distilling Whiskey at the dawn of the American Revolution and during the War of 1812, he built the first log cabin distillery in Versailles, Kentucky. Eventually, he passed the family business on to his son, Oscar, and then on to his grandson, James E. Pepper. Colonel James E. Pepper was one of Kentucky's first Bourbon aristocrats he raced thoroughbreds in the Kentucky Derby, traveled in a private rail car and made famous the Old Fashioned cocktail. Pepper Whiskey is an old fashioned Whiskey, made in the old time way from a formula used for more than 100 years by three generations of the Pepper family, wrote James, in an advertisement dated August 22, 1887. We claim not only to make the oldest but absolutely the purest and best brand of Whiskey made in America, and we invite comparison with any Whiskey of any age. In 1958, after the Whiskey industry fell on hard times, the James E. Pepper Distillery was forced to close its doors. During its tenure, Pepper Whiskey, or Old 1776 Whiskey as it became it known, was a favorite of Presidents Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant, and was preferred by Daniel Webster, a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts. Before re-launching this iconic brand, says Amir Peay, we did extensive research and spent years collecting and analyzing full, preserved bottles of original Pepper Whiskey. Peay even acquired a letter written by Pepper himself, detailing the exact mashbill and recipe used to create Old 1776. We wanted to pay homage to Pepper's legacy and do our best to recreate the original Pepper Whiskey something that was part of American history, he says. The high-rye mash bill, non-chill filtration and overproof character result in a Whiskey with spicy aromas of crushed pepper, tobacco, barrel char and licorice. The chewy palate is filled with more herbs and spices, particularly cedar, and leads to an exceptional finish with hints of black cherry, charcoal smoke and mild sweetness. "We used the same traditional methods that Pepper championed in order to restore these Whiskeys," says Peay.

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

Nestled in a Denver industrial complex, Leopold Bros. Distillery is the brainchild of Todd Leopold. His journey through malt and brewing studies, brewing in Germany, and distilling in Kentucky led to the establishment of this distillery in 2008, in Littleton, Colorado. Leopold Bros. celebrates the diversity of Pre-Prohibition American rye whiskey, offering both Pennsylvania rye with traditional spice and dryness and Maryland rye, known for its fruity and floral character. Leopold Bros.' Maryland-Style Rye Whiskey revives a classic style with meticulous yeast selection and aging in charred American oak barrels, resulting in a unique flavor profile marked by woody rye, vanilla, citrus, and cocoa notes.

Taconic distillery's home is the iconic Hudson Valley. Saturated with National Historic landmarks, the area boasts bountiful farms. With a fervor for the rustic outdoors and a strong desire to work the land, the Coughlin family purchased a portion Laured beef Farms, in Stanfordville, NY, in 2010. Renaming it Rolling Hills Farm. The former farm's 113 acres of rolling hills, became the inspiration for Taconic Distillery's entrance to Dutchess County's local agribusiness market.Inspired by a sporting lifestyle, Taconic's team share a love of the outdoors. Together they embrace hunting, fishing, and a general passion for the outdoor life. This lifestyle is imprinted upon all their products. This area is also the number one wine-producing region in the United States, and home to a world class culinary institute. Taconic prides itself on preserving a bourbon whiskey tradition: From George and Martha Washington's home during the American Revolution, to the Great Estates of the Vanderbilt's, Roosevelt's and Rockefeller's, to the hunting preserves and horse farms of today, bourbon whiskey has been savored for generations (Taconic Distillery). To maintain an unadulterated flavor of the whiskey, Taconic never chill filters, and distill their whiskeys below 160 proof to retain the flavors from the grains. It is the flavor of the grains that are transferred through the distilling process as fatty molecules or flavor oils which results in a cloudiness in the whiskey. Those flavors are transferred through the distilling process as fatty molecules (flavor oils). Some distillers will chill filter the fatty molecules and sacrifice a certain amount of flavor for clarity. Taconic uses distinct Coopers Select, Char #3 new oak barrels made by the Independent Stave Company. Their barrels have a unique maturation process; aged in shipping containers. Less is lost to the angel's share, due to the saturation of the air inside the containers. Being exposed to great temperature fluctuations, results in greater movement of spirit in and out of the barrel staves. Aging occurs in cycles, during times of increased temperature such as in the summer, the whiskey expands through the char, through to the untreated wood beneath. While in the wood, the whiskey dissolves various flavorful compounds. When temperatures drop, the liquid contracts and brings out all of the flavors of the wood, producing flavors that complement the body of the whiskey. Named after the US founding fathers, Taconic's Rye Whiskey is aged in virgin American white oak barrels until golden caramel in color. Rye lovers will appreciate its bold, spicy flavor with a mildly sweet finish. Bottled at 90 proof this homage to the founding fathers is terrific in cocktails and smooth when enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Pick up a bottle of this Founder's Rye today!

Bonticou Crag is a 100% single malt rye made of heirloom varietals from Coppersea’s own and neighboring Hudson Valley farms. We name it for the rocky prominence overlooking our farm at the northern end of the Shawangunk Ridge.

We floor malt the rye in our own malt house in the traditional manner, hand-raking daily to ensure proper aeration in the sprouting grain and then lightly kiln-toasting to dry and preserve.

Open-top fermentation infuses the mash with additional local terroir from ambient yeast and other microflora. As with all of our “Heritage Methods Distilled” products, we twice-distill in True Fire Copper, direct-fired simple alembic stills, and barrel age our spirits at the ultra-low proof of 105.

TASTING NOTES

Nose offers hints of baking spices. Opens on the palate with blackberry, cinnamon and allspice, then yields to caramel, toasted biscuit, vanilla, and pepper, with lingering finish of raw honey and nutmeg.

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. traces their roots back to the 1880's, to the heart of Henderson Kentucky. Peerless Whiskey was founded by a businessman with a bold personality Henry Kraver, who revived the brand from the brink of ruin in the late 1880s. Under Kraver's guidance, rose from the ashes, increasing production 25-fold. But the growth of the brand was subsequently stunted by the very unforgiving era of Prohibition. Now, a century later, Peerless Whisky is in the hands of Kraver's great-grandson Corky Taylor and great-great-grandson Carson Taylor. Keeping Kraver's legacy alive, the duo has resurrected the brand, even distilling under the original Distilled Spirits Plant number, DSP-KY-50 in a centuries-old warehouse in downtown Louisville, near the Ohio River. Peerless Whiskey is distilled using a process that values quality over cost. They use a sweet mash, which is costlier than the more commonly used sour mash. The spirit also enters the barrel at a lower 107 proof, which results in the use of 17% more barrels. Water is added before the maturation process as opposed to after, transforming it from a dilutant to an ingredient. The straight rye is non-chill filtered and bottled at barrel strength, revealing a robust, authentic, unadulterated whiskey that was ranked No.15 by Whisky Advocate, on their list of Top 20 Whiskies of 2017. Peerless Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is an incredibly well-balanced whiskey with smooth, sweet notes of brown sugar, oak, and citrus. We craft our spirits at an unhurried pace, like my great-grandfather did. Only the best bourbon and rye whiskey leaves our doors says Corky Taylor.

Kentucky Owl was founded by Charles Mortimer Dedman, a local pharmacist, in 1879. After marrying his wife, Dedman was given a large parcel of land on the banks of the Kentucky River, as a wedding gift from his adopted father who was a local town judge. C.M. Dedman Distillery was established here on the banks of the Kentucky River, producing "The Wise Man's Bourbon" under Distilled Spirits Plant Designation "No. 16," one of Kentucky's original distilleries and part of a booming industry. Kentucky Owl achieved much success and production continued until Prohibition halted distillation. The family-run facility was no match for the "forces of teetotalism, temperance and eventually, the Feds" (producer). In 1916, Prohibition left several local distilleries with ample reserves of bourbon. As for Kentucky Owl, approximately 250,000 gallons of bourbon were left over in various stages of aging. Today these reserves would be worth about $40 million in inventory. After Federal agents descended on the Dedman's distillery, the bourbon was seized and shipped up the river by barge to the state capital in Frankfort for "safekeeping" in a warehouse. This batch of Kentucky Owl Straight Rye was released in September of 2017. The nose features elements of sweet pine, honey, nougat, vanilla, cloves, and lavender, followed by oaky undertones, subtle cedar sawdust or fresh split cedar. This rye is unique in that it offers rich aromas, without being too forwardly spicy on the nose. The palate is flush with immediate, mouthcoating notes of nutmeg and cinnamon, followed by pepper spice with vanilla on the front and anise across the middle. Subtle cinnamon spice clings to the finish.

(r)1 whiskey is a premium whiskey produced by Beam Suntory. It is a blend of several different age statements of a minimum of 4.5 years. It is a uniquely smooth and sophisticated whiskey. The deliberate blending of several different ages creates a higher proof; spicy, yet lighter rye taste; and long, luxurious finish (producer). (r)1 has spicy yet approachable flavors with a distinctive profile due and a luxurious and striking finish. Bottled at 92 proof, this modern spirit is enjoyed best in cocktails. It is has light, and spicy flavors with a long, luxurious finish.When enjoyed straight, the nose offers a gentle, peppery nod to its rye heritage. Cut with water, the scents of dried fruit and cinnamon push to the front, providing a rich palate experience. Packaged in a distinctive glass bottle this whiskey received a Double Gold medal at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a Gold medal at the 2009 International Review of Spirits, and a Bronze at the Beverage World's Global Packaging Awards in 2008. 

Where other rye whiskeys are watered down, Bone Snapper Rye is the big proof, bold flavor rye that makes your money well spent. No wonder it was named a Top 5 Rye Whiskey by Maxim Magazine.

Distilled with a mash of 95% rye and 5% malt, the rye ages in small batches in Bardstown, KY, before being bottled. No chill-filtration. No mystery ingredients. Just great rye whiskey with a bold, spicy flavor bottled at 108 proof.

Every bottle of Bone Snapper Rye delivers a smooth, consistent punch that is the reward for anyone who has put in a hard day’s work and earned the

Our Rye Whiskey is a true small-batch whiskey twice distilled in direct-fire, traditional copper alembic pot stills from a rye malt mash composed of 78% rye and 22% aromatic malted barley. Each batch is aged for a minimum of 18 months in heavy charred, new American White Oak barrels.

This energetic spirit has a complex flavor paired with remarkable smoothness and character. It boasts flavors of honey and oak and imparts hints of vanilla, spice of rye, and a nice subtle caramel note on the palate.

Awards

Best of Sunset International Spirits Awards 2021

Gold California Craft Spirits Competition, 2020

Gold Best in Show, Best of Class, Best of Division, Distilled Spirits and Cocktail Competition 2018

Gold California Craft Spirits Competition 2018

Gold Craft Distillers Spirits Competition 2017

Silver Outstanding Whiskies of the World 2017

Bronze American Distilling Institute 2018

Bronze California Craft Spirits Competition 2017

In the late 1950s, the Medley Distillery began producing a bourbon named Ezra Brooks in Owensboro, Kentucky. The distillery, which was founded in 1901, traced its origins back to the birth of Kentucky bourbon; while Reverend Elijah Craig is usually credited with producing the first bourbon whiskey at his mill in Lebanon in 1789, the Medley family began distilling whiskey at the same time in the adjacent county in Kentucky. In fact, except during the thirteen years during which distillation was outlawed in the United States, a member of the Medley family has been operating a distillery continuously since 1812. Today, Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Whiskey continues to be produced in the heart of Kentucky. The bourbon is made from a mash of 95% rye and 5% malted barley which are milled and mashed before being fermented. Following distillation, the bourbon is aged for a 24 months in charred American oak casks. 

The Featherbone Factory built by E.K. Warren in the 19th century to manufacture women's corsets sits on the banks of Lake Michigan just across the Indiana border in Three Oaks, Michigan. As the factory changed hands in the twentieth century, it became a production site for everything from buggy whips to pickles. Today, it's home to Journeyman Distillery and Bill Welter, Journeyman's master distiller. Welter, who was formerly a banker in Indiana, began his Journey when his family business was sold in 2006. He moved to Scotland, where he began to learn the art of craft distillation from Greg Ramsay (master distiller at Nant Distillery) and Bill Lark (master distiller at Lark Distillery). After returning to the United States, Welter spent time producing and resting whiskey using a prominent organic & kosher distiller's facility in Chicago before opening the doors of his own distillery in Three Oaks with the intention to offer grain-to-glass spirits from day one/drop one. Last Feather Rye is made by distilling a mash of 60 percent organic rye and 40 percent organic wheat through a 5000-liter, copper pot still imported from Germany. The organic rye and wheat are produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, artificial pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, growth hormones, feed additives, or genetically modified organisms and enable Journeyman Distillery and all of its products to be certified organic by the Midwest Organic Services Association. Following distillation, the rye ages to profile in newly charred American oak casks. Using multiple size barrels, each distillation is tailored to the barrel it will age in and bottled once it has reached the desired taste profile. Journeyman Last Feather Rye has notes of ripe banana on the nose, spice and pepper of rye well balanced with the sweetness of wheat, fruit notes and a clean/dry finish - easy drinking.

Blending is an art form, and our Dark Rye is your chance to own what might very well be a masterpiece. It all begins with Kentucky Rye, providing a firm foundation of spice, oak, dried fruit and subtle molasses undertones for this release to build upon. From there, Canadian Rye from our award-winning Alberta Distillery is skillfully layered in. A touch of California Port, and its complementary notes of ripe fruit, provides the third and final layer to a whiskey just as at home on the rocks as it is in a cocktail. Full in flavor, yet delicately nuanced, you’d be wise to grab a bottle of our Dark Rye to experience this magical blend for yourself.

Tasting Notes

AROMA: Oaky notes balanced with dark berries and molasses

TASTE: Complex blend of caramel, dried fruit, and oak with back notes of spice and a rounded mouthfeel

FINISH: Lingering dried fruit with a hint of sweetness and rye spice

COLOR: Deep, rich amber with ruby undertones

WHISKEY TYPE

RYE WHISKEY

47.8% 95.6 PROOF
750ml

MASH BILL

80% RYE
ORIGIN: CALIFORNIA

10% WHEAT
ORIGIN: CALIFORNIA

10% CHERRYWOOD SMOKED BARLEY
ORIGIN: WYOMING

FLAVOR PROFILE

DRIED FIGS, TOASTED ALMONDS, BRANDIED CHERRIES, AND NEW LEATHER

FOOD PAIRING

BOAR, VENISON, TOMATO SAUCE, AND BERRY TART WITH ORANGE ZEST

AGED A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS

For the Willett family, distilling craft whiskey is a family tradition. John David Willett began distilling at the Moore, Willett & Frenke Distillery in Kentucky during Reconstruction. In 1898, Lambert Willett, who was 15 years old at the time, began apprenticing with his father. Nearly four decades later, Lambert, together with his son, Thompson, purchased a farm on the outskirts of Bardstown, Kentucky and began construction of the Willett Distilling Company. Today, Evan Kulsveen, Thompson Willett's son-in-law and the owner of Willett Distilling Company, continues to shepherd the family legacy forward. This Willett Family Estate Small Batch rye is matured for four years in hand selected White Oak barrels for four years. Bottled at a cask strength this powerful rye is deeply complex with a touch of sweetness followed by toasted notes. 

"This 13-year breaks the mold, as it is one of the oldest rye whiskeys available today. The maturity it has achieved while aging is quite obvious when you take the first sip. It’s a truly unique and rewarding rye whiskey experience." -Paul Pacult

TASTING NOTES

A soft nose of chestnuts, spice, vanilla and fruit. Features flavors of cocoa, vanilla, spice, and white pepper. A long, warm and complex finish with caramel and spice combined with dry oak.

AWARDS (Most Recent Rewards)

2005 Bronze Medal - Whisky Magazine

2003 Bronze Medal - International Spirits Challenge

2000 Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition