A Tennessee whiskey company that buys bulk rye whiskey from Indiana, modifies it somewhere in Plainview, IL and then bottles it in Norwalk, CT is almost a quintessential example of the current state of American whiskey. Maybe a better way is to say that George Dickle Rye is a glimpse behind the curtain of the American whiskey business. Keyword, there. What George Dickel did was a simple business decision: capitalize on the surging rye market by sourcing a good bulk rye and applying their signature Tennessee modification in the Lincoln Country Process.

And being impeccably transparent about it.

And thus far, they have enjoyed fine success and no real pushback from the dreaded blogosphere. Simple as that, folks. The practice of bottling someone else’s product and bringing it to market is not new in American whiskey, which is why we should be careful when we display our outrage at acceptable business practices. You know, all 1% of us. Now onward to calmer, more sober minded blather on George Dickel Rye.

Distilled by Midwest Grain Products in Lawrenceburg, IN, George Dickel Rye ceases to be Tennessee whiskey but is still charcoal filtered per the Lincoln Country Process. The source rye is shipped to Plainview, IL and poured into large vats full of sugar maple charcoal to take on a “Tennessee” identity, just not officially. So we got through an entire write-up without anything negative. A turning point, really.

SWC Review

Nose- Thick sweetness with caramel and maple. The rye is retained with pine, grassy mint and an herbal garden feel. The two flavor groups compete a bit but overall a quiet affair in the glass.

Taste- Clean burst of rye, sweet mint, spicy. Flavors of the meadow. Light.

Finish- Classic char (duh) with pepper. Baked apples and herbal flourishes. Medium length.

Comment- Great value for money and decently drinkable. Not a whole lot of things to complain about. Cool idea, too.

SWC Rating- 82/100

Agree? Disagree? Don’t really give a hoot?  Let us know in the comments section below.

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