Jim Beam Rye

Ok, after some tries and getting used to the overall rye and spicy aromas, there's still a little sweetness/Vanilla on the palate. Couldn't find any mint as in other reviews though...

Very nice review. Jim Beam Rye has recently varied a lot year to year, as Jim Murray has noted in his Whisky Bibles. The 2008 release was actually MUCH spicier than the currently available Jim Beam Rye, for example. Where I live, in Maryland, which is part of the original US straight rye whiskey distilling region along with Pennsylvania, 40% 'standard' ryes like Jim Beam Yellow Label, Old Overholt (a Pennyslvania brand now also distilled by Beam in Kentucky) and Pikesville Supreme (Heaven Hill distilled, a pre-Prohibition Baltimore brand)cost $ 10-15. They are, depending on the year-batch, often quite good, and would, I think, be amazing if they were bottled at 50% plus and not diluted down to 40% abv. As a rye-ophile I keep hoping that Beam and Heaven Hill will follow Buffalo Trace and some other distilleries and give us some undiluted and less-diluted rye whiskeys to enjoy.

Additional comment: Heaven Hill does distribute some ryes above 40% abv, such as most of the Rittenhouse ryes at 50% abv. I would love to try barrel proof versions of both the Rittenhouse ryes and of Pikesville Supreme. Barrel proof/cask strength ryes are available from Sazerac corporation's Buffalo Trace distillery (Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye), and also Willett single barrel ryes, of undisclosed distillery origin.

Thanks for your comment and feedback! Highly appreciated as this is my first review here on connosr.com :)

In order to get some further Rye experience I have Rittenhouse and WIld Turkey on my shortlist. Any further recommendations which are available here in Europe (Germany)?

Rittenhouse, Wild Turkey, and Russell's Reserve (another Wild Turkey product) ryes are good solid choices. If you can get Thomas H. Handy Sazeac Rye, Sazerac 18 Rye, Van Winkle 13 yo Family Reserve Rye, or any Willett Single Barrel Rye, try them. I like almost all ryes. My personal favourites are Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey, and Abraham Bowman Single Barrel Rye. Of those, you would probably only have an opportunity to find the Thomas H. Handy in Germany.

Speaking about the opportunity to sample: I look forward to one day having the opportunity to sample a number of the German and Austrian rye whiskies! You know, the American straight rye whiskeys and the rye dominated American bourbon whiskeys came originally from the old world whiskey-making traditions of the German American colonists in Pennsylvania and Maryland.