MB Roland is a small Kentucky distillery in Pembroke, established in 2009, and this rye is about as transparent as American whiskey gets. Everything you would normally have to dig for is written by hand on the front label: the batch, the exact proof, the barrel type and the full mashbill. This is batch 14, bottled at 55.3 percent alcohol by volume, 110.6 proof, from new number four char barrels, with a mashbill of 68 percent rye, 27 percent white corn and 5 percent malt. That is a genuinely high rye proportion, well above the 51 percent minimum, and it means the pepper, mint and dry herbal snap of the grain lead rather than sitting behind corn sweetness. The white corn is worth noting too, since most American whiskey uses yellow dent, and white corn tends to give a softer, sweeter, less oily backdrop against which the rye can assert itself. A number four char is the heaviest standard char level, often called alligator char for the way the wood blisters, and it contributes deep caramelised sugars and a pronounced smoky, tannic edge. The bottling claim is stronger than it first appears. Still and barrel proof means no water is added at any point, not at barrel entry and not at bottling, which goes a step beyond a standard barrel proof release where the distillate is usually cut before it goes into wood. Combined with being uncut and unfiltered, what reaches the glass is the whiskey exactly as the still and the barrel made it, right down to the odd decimal on the proof. Expect an intense nose of rye spice, vanilla and char, then a full oily palate of black pepper, clove, caramel and dry herbs, finishing long, warming and tannic. Drink it neat first, then add water carefully.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
55.3% |
| Proof |
110.6 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Pembroke, Kentucky |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Expression |
Still & Barrel Proof, Uncut & Unfiltered |
| Batch |
14 |
| Mashbill |
68% rye, 27% white corn, 5% malt |
| Barrel |
New #4 char |
| Age |
No age statement |
| Filtration |
Unfiltered |
| Distillery |
MB Roland Distillery, established 2009 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with a reddish copper cast, unfiltered.
Nose: Intense and grain forward, with rye spice, vanilla, char and a dry herbal edge over caramel sweetness.
Palate: Full and oily at full strength, delivering black pepper, clove and dry rye herbs against caramel and toasted oak.
Finish: Long and warming, closing on spice, char and firm oak tannin.
FAQ
What proof is this bottle? Batch 14 is bottled at 110.6 proof, or 55.3 percent alcohol by volume, written by hand on the label. Because nothing is diluted, every batch lands at a different strength.
What does still and barrel proof mean? No water is added at any stage. The distillate goes into the barrel at the strength it came off the still, and it is bottled at whatever strength it comes out. That goes beyond standard barrel proof, where spirit is usually diluted before barrelling.
What is the mashbill? 68 percent rye, 27 percent white corn and 5 percent malt, printed directly on the label. The high rye proportion means the grain's pepper and herbal character leads.
What is a number four char? The heaviest standard char level used on American whiskey barrels, sometimes called alligator char for how the wood blisters. It produces deep caramelised sugars in the oak and contributes smoke, spice and tannic grip.
Is it bourbon? No. At 27 percent corn it falls well below the 51 percent minimum required for bourbon, and the label designates it Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.
Where can I buy MB Roland Still & Barrel Proof Rye online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
