Pikesville 6 Year Old 110 Proof Straight Rye
The Other Heaven Hill Rye 55% ABV
3 1990
Review by @Victor
- Nose22
- Taste23
- Finish22
- Balance23
- Overall90
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- Brand: Pikesville
- Type: American
- ABV: 55%
...or, alternate title: Baltimore, Maryland Rye from Heaven Hill in Kentucky.
People know Rittenhouse Rye by Heaven Hill because it is distributed worldwide. Rittenhouse is a Pennsylvania or Monongahela Style Rye whiskey. Heaven Hill also makes what has been until now a much more limited distribution edition 'Maryland Style' Rye whiskey named Pikesville
Pikesville Rye was first established in 1895, and, with the exception of the Prohibition years, was made in Pikesville Maryland, adjacent to the City of Baltimore, Maryland, into the 1970s. Heaven Hill bought the rights to Pikesville Rye, and has since that time distributed Pikesville Supreme Rye, 40% ABV, 3 years old, to a limited area, mostly within its traditional market in the state of Maryland. Pre-Prohibition US Rye whiskeys were made almost exclusively in the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Before Prohibition there were a number of rye whiskey distilleries in the State of Maryland. 'The Maryland Style' of rye is described as being softer than the Pennsylvania "Monongahela" style. I have previously only known 'Maryland Style Rye' through my experiences with Pikesville Supreme 40% ABV Rye made at Heaven Hill. Leopold Brothers in Denver, Colorado also makes a Maryland Style Rye Whiskey. Maryland was famously pro-alcohol in that it refused to enact its own state laws to enforce the US Federal Prohibiton amendment. I read that this brand new Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey 6 yo 110 proof is intended to have a national rather than regional distribution. I expect that some of it will reach the international market as well. I have been wishing and hoping for years that barrel strength or near-barrel-strengh versions of Pikesville Supreme, Old Overholt, and Jim Beam Rye would be released. One for three is much better than none for three. The reviewed bottle was a gift from my sister, and has been open for 6 days
Nose: spice, caramel, vanilla, and molasses all bundled together, with heavy char and light floral notes. This has mostly middle pitches, but also some high confectioner's sugar notes and a few molasses-y bass notes from wood. Water added homogenised the flavours even more
Taste: thick mouthfeel; buttery taste and texture. Bright woody tannic tones arrive first, followed by the onset of great sweetness, and then a lot of baking spices and black pepper from rye grain. You could also make a case for describing the sweetness here as honeyed. This appears simple at first, but is actually deceptively complex. Water added bundled the palate flavours and accentuated brown sugar/molasses
Finish: long finish; stays sweet and spicy until the death, which moves slightly to the sour. Water added continues the bundled palate and brown sugar overlay for a very long slow fadeout
Balance: the flavours cooperate well together. Pikesville Rye is a very interesting and unusual style of rye whiskey which tastes much different from Heaven Hill's other rye, Rittenhouse. Pikesville is also sweeter than are most US straight rye whiskeys
Strength: strong flavours across the board. Score: 23/25 points
Quality: very good quality of all of the flavours. Score: 22.5/25 points
Variety: a very adequate variety of flavours is available when you look closely. Score: 22/25 points
Harmony: the flavours work together quite nicely. Score: 22.5/25 points
Total non-sequential score: 90/100 points
Comment: it should be very interesting to see how 55% ABV Pikesville Rye takes air in the open bottle. The 40% ABV 3 yo Pikesville I've had has been batch variable in its initial quality, but has often aged very well, bringing out fruity elements later which were not much manifest early after the bottles had been opened
My only substantial disappointment with 55% ABV Pikesville 6 yo Rye is that I was hoping for a low price point, something like the pricing for Old Grand-Dad 114 bourbon from Beam. Why? Because Pikesville 40% ABV is sold very inexpensively here. At $ 50 US retail Pikesville 55% ABV 6 yo Rye Whiskey is a very worthwhile whiskey, but is not inexpensive
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Heaven Hill is quickly becoming one of my favourite distilleries. I am amazed by the high quality of their products. Thank you @Victor for another interesting and informative review. I definitely have room for a bottle of Pikesville Rye 6 YO 110 Proof on my shelf.