Very Olde St. Nick Summer Rye is a cask strength rye from one of the most cult followed labels in American whiskey, and the seasonal counterpart to the brand's Harvest Rye. The Very Olde St. Nick name traces back to the 1980s, when it was built largely for the Japanese export market under Marci Palatella, and its early bottlings passed through the hands of Julian Van Winkle and later the Willett family before the brand found its permanent home at Preservation Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. The name Summer Rye is a nod to that heritage, a play on the word samurai, and it also describes the whiskey's making: the barrels for this release are hand selected and dumped before the peak of the Kentucky summer, capturing the rye before the heat can claim a larger angel's share. Very Olde St. Nick built its reputation by seeking out quirky, odd lot barrels of exceptional old whiskey when almost no one else wanted them, and that philosophy still governs every release. Bottled at cask strength and unfiltered in minuscule lots, this expression comes in at 117.4 proof, though the figure shifts from lot to lot, so every bottling is a one off. It pours a bright copper and delivers a distinctly rye forward experience, with sweet herbs and baking spice leading the nose over gentle proof warmth. The palate is vibrant and spicy, layering peppery rye character with rich vanilla, honey and gentle oak, and the finish is long, warming and full of lingering spice. Rare, characterful and genuinely hard to find, it rewards slow sipping neat or with a splash of water to open it up.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Very Olde St. Nick |
| Producer |
Preservation Distillery + Farm, Bardstown, Kentucky |
| Category |
Rye Whiskey (Estate Reserve, cask strength) |
| Composition |
Hand selected rye barrels dumped before the summer heat; unfiltered |
| Batch |
Small lot release |
| ABV |
58.7% |
| Proof |
117.4 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Bright copper.
Nose: Sweet herbs and baking spice over gentle proof warmth.
Palate: Vibrant and spicy, peppery rye with rich vanilla, honey and gentle oak.
Finish: Long and warming with lingering spice.
FAQ
What is Very Olde St. Nick Summer Rye? It is a cask strength, unfiltered rye whiskey released in tiny lots, with barrels dumped before the peak of the Kentucky summer heat.
What proof is this bottle? This bottle is 117.4 proof, roughly 58.7 percent alcohol by volume. Proof varies from lot to lot on this release.
Where does the name come from? Summer Rye is a play on the word samurai, a nod to the brand's origins in the Japanese export market, and it reflects the pre summer barrel dumping.
Who makes it? The Very Olde St. Nick brand, founded by Marci Palatella, is bottled at Preservation Distillery and Farm in Bardstown, Kentucky.
How should I drink it? Neat, or with a splash of water to open up its spice and sweetness.
Where can I buy Very Olde St. Nick Summer Rye Cask Strength Whiskey online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
