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    Photo courtesy of Limestone Branch
    Bourbon/Whiskey Reviews

    Minor Case Rye Whiskey

    BillBy BillMay 11, 2017Updated:October 12, 2017No Comments3 Mins Read

    Minor Case Rye

    87 Good

    The sherry finish does wonders for what would otherwise be an immature rye whiskey. Barrel Finishing is truly a craft, and Steve and Paul Beam are proving to be excellent craftsmen.

    What it is

    Minor Case is a new, limited edition Rye Whiskey from Limestone Branch.  The whiskey itself is sourced from MGP, and is two years old, but is then finished a minimum of 6 months in Sherry casks.  While there are different mash bills for MGP rye, this one reportedly uses 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley.

    Limestone Branch is partially owned by Luxco, and that is particularly relevant in this case (no pun intended) because Luxco recently released Ezra Brooks Straight Rye, which is also a 2 year old MGP rye whiskey, though it has no secondary barrel finish.  So a comparison of these two presentations is inevitable.

    My grandfather, Minor Case Beam, made rye whiskey in his day, before prohibition, which was his specialty. This rye whiskey is inspired by him and a tribute to his distilling legacy,” says Steve Beam, president and distiller of Limestone Branch Distillery. “His mission was to craft only the finest whiskey – we are honoring him, his passion for distilling and what could’ve been if prohibition didn’t occur with this straight rye.”

    Minor Case Rye Vital Stats
    •  ABV:45% (Proof: 90º)
    •  Mash Bill: 51% Rye, 45% Corn, 4% malted barley
    • Style: Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Sherry Barrels
    • Distilled at: MGP
    • Age: 2 Years plus 8 months in Cream Sherry casks
    • Producer: Limestone Branch
    •  Price: $50
    •  Availability: Limited

    Packaging

    Wow.  This is my favorite bottle of the year.  Minor Case’s historic crest is embossed on the flask-style bottle. There’s also a letterpress label and a cork stopper.  Simply put, it looks fantastic.

    Appearance

    Medium amber, fairly clear.  This is both young and likely well-filtered, at least from the initial dump.  Despite the appearance, it is apparently non-chill filtered.

    Nose

    There is a definite sherry note to the nose, but that is secondary to toffee and baking spices.  A hint of rye pepper and citrus peel are present as well.

    Taste

    Initially, I expected this to taste a lot like the Ezra Brooks.  By that, I mean to say I expected it to taste young and immature.  The barrel finish does wonders here, however, and it’s far from that.  In fact, it’s pretty tasty.  The regular MGP goodness of lemon zest, black pepper, and candied fruits are present, but a wonderfully boozy sherry finish quickly follows up with a hint of caramel and toffee.

    Finishglencairn-amazon

    The finish of this is probably on the short-to-medium range, and without the sherry barrels, would probably be very dry and extremely short.  But the sherry notes continue through and linger a bit after the rest of the typical rye notes have faded.  There isn’t a ton of oak or barrel tannins, which is to be expected in such a young whiskey.  The downside to the relatively young age is prevalent on the mouth feel, however, as this is a really thin sip on the tongue, which no doubt contributes to the ever-so-slightly truncated finish.

    Synopsis

    This is a great example of how a secondary finish can do wonders for what is otherwise a lackluster spirit.  Comparing the 2 year Ezra Brooks to this is night and day.  I scored that Ezra Brooks an 81, and didn’t recommend it.  This one is much better.  And while its lower proof and thin mouth feel probably don’t lend it to being a great mixing whiskey, it drinks exceptionally easy straight up.

    ModernThirst.com score: 87 out of 100.

    What does that score mean?

    Photo courtesy of Limestone Branch
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    Bill
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    Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. He is a native of Louisville, KY in the heart of Bourbon Country. He attended the University of Kentucky in the mid to late 1990s. He has also been published on Liquor.com. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. He is married with two daughters, and lives in east Louisville. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @BillStraub and email him at Bill@ModernThirst.com.

    Related Posts

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    November 30, 2021

    Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon

    August 24, 2021

    Press Release: Old Forester’s Next Release in the 117 Series Features a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K 

    August 20, 2021

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