This is the oldest rye Bulleit has ever released, and the reason it matters goes beyond the age statement. Long aged rye is genuinely difficult. Twenty years in oak will flatten most rye whiskeys, stripping out the bright peppery lift that makes the grain worth drinking and leaving something tannic and tired behind. The barrel selection here was led by Nicole Austin, Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development and Capabilities at Diageo, working alongside the Bulleit Distilling Co. team, and the brief was specifically to find barrels that could carry two decades without losing the spice. The whiskey is built on Bulleit's signature mashbill of 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley, the recipe that put the brand at the centre of rye's modern revival when bartenders in the early 2010s went looking for something spicier and more structured to build cocktails on. It was distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, aged for twenty years, and bottled by BFW Spirits in Bardstown, Kentucky at full cask strength with no dilution. Expect seasoned oak and warm baking spice on the nose, then dark fruit, caramelised sweetness and mature rye spice across the palate, closing long and layered. It is bottled non chill filtered, and the label notes plainly that sedimentation from the barrels may be present, which is a mark of how little has been done to it rather than a fault. The release is capped at 1,776 individually numbered bottles in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America's founding, and rye is the right grain to mark that with, given how central it was to American drinking from the beginning. Sip it neat from a Glencairn and add water a few drops at a time.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
68.5% |
| Proof |
137 (Cask Strength) |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Distillery |
Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana |
| Bottler |
BFW Spirits, Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Bulleit Distilling Co. (Diageo) |
| Blender |
Nicole Austin, Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development and Capabilities |
| Category |
Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Expression |
Bulleit 95 Rye 20 Year Old Cask Strength |
| Age |
20 Years |
| Mashbill |
95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley |
| Release Size |
1,776 individually numbered bottles |
| Bottle Number |
692 of 1,776 (this bottle) |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Released |
July 2026 |
| Occasion |
250th anniversary of America's founding |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep burnished amber, notably dark for a rye.
Nose: Seasoned oak and warm baking spice lead, with dried fruit and caramelised sweetness behind.
Palate: Concentrated and powerful. Dark fruit and caramel carry mature rye spice, with leather and polished oak underneath.
Finish: Long and layered, with lingering spice and deep barrel intensity.
FAQ
Q: How limited is it?
A: 1,776 individually numbered bottles, referencing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This bottle is number 692.
Q: What proof is it?
A: 137 proof, 68.5 percent alcohol by volume, bottled at cask strength without dilution.
Q: Where was it made?
A: Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, aged twenty years, and bottled by BFW Spirits in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Q: Why is a 20 year old rye unusual?
A: Extended oak ageing tends to overwhelm rye's characteristic spice, so long aged ryes are uncommon. The barrel selection here targeted casks that could hold twenty years without losing the grain's character.
Q: Is sediment in the bottle a problem?
A: No. The label states that sedimentation from the barrels may be present in this non chill filtered spirit. It is expected and is a sign of minimal processing.
Q: Where can I buy Bulleit 20 Year Old Rye online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
