Old Overholt 11 Year Old Cask Strength Straight Rye at K&L California ~ Whiskey News

Old Overholt 11 Year Old Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml) $89.99 View

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Buyer | Review Date: 04/2025

Lots of people talk about how the rye boom is over. Now that’s not at all because demand for great rye has dropped, but the insane deals on rye that were once available have all but disappeared. There was never a lot of rye out there, but there was a period where we could get good aged rye over 10 years for less than $100 every day of the week. Now getting even an age stated rye from Kentucky is nearly impossible. Kentucky Owl sells their 12 year (perhaps distilled at the very same place) for over $300. Knob Creek is one of the few exceptions, but this awesome release is meant to be a recreation of the original Overholt recipe from 120 years ago and tastes completely different than those Knobs. 80% rye and 20% “soft” malted barley – this is way out of the standard Beam style. Let’s go! A lovely deep copper (1.0). There’s a beautiful nose zesty citrus oil, sweet oaky, dense smoldering toasted cinnamon. It’s surprisingly pretty even at cask strength offering rich caramel bolstered by sweet round rye spice. On the palate, it’s medium bodied big round peppery spice with juicy red fruit with plenty of dense oak and a beautiful savory finish. This is an extremely open and approachable, yet has plenty of deep complexity. Considering we sold out of the 10 year version at a nearly $50 higher price, this is an incredible deal for limited edition cask strength 11 year rye. No one on the market is getting close to this Overholt for good old rye.

The historic Overholt brand was once the most prominent and distinguished rye whiskey in the land. Today it remains one of the stalwarts of the back bar producing some of the best value rye in the world, but very rarely we get access to well-aged stocks at cask strength. This is the second squatty release of cask strength rye originally distilled in 2012 and bottled just before its 12th birthday in 2024. Bottled without addition of water or chillfiltration, it’s one of the oldest Kentucky rye whiskies on the market today. Similarly aged Kentucky rye from other brands sells for 3 or 4 times the price of this wonderful bottle and while it may seem like we have ample stocks of this special limited release, it is only due to the persistence and attention of our spirits buying team that we were able to acquire this stock at such an advantageous price. It is unclear if other releases will follow of this wonderful old rye, but its easily one of the finest modern revivals of any brand to date.

Whisky Advocate Review Date: 09/2020

The grain shows itself richly on the nose, with baking spice, peppermint stick, and nutty aromas; with time, candied fruit notes emerge. They reappear on the palate, especially after adding a few drops of water, as cherry skins and grape jelly. There’s also peppermint, cocoa powder, roasted walnuts, chicory, and black pepper. The finish veers toward bitterness, with dark chocolate and coffee bean, but retains a peppermint verve. (SSB)

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

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Old Overholt 11 Year Old Cask Strength Straight Rye at K&L California ~ Whiskey News

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