Pikesville
Maryland Style Rye
0 280
Review by @Victor
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall80
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- Brand: Pikesville
- Type: American
- ABV: 40%
Pikesville, Maryland, is a close suburb of Baltimore and the geographical center of Baltimore's Jewish Community. Prior to Prohibition Maryland had dozens of rye whiskey distilleries which subsequently were permanently closed. Pikesville Maryland Straight Rye Whiskey brand was bought out and moved to Kentucky where it became Pikesville Supreme Straight Rye Whiskey, distilled and owned by Heaven Hill. This review is of the 2010 release of Pikesville Supreme Straight Rye Whiskey. The whiskey is aged 3 years.
Nose: rich rye spice flavours, especially black pepper, with some wood also noticeable
Taste: very clear, very clean, crisp rye flavours. The wood flavours are also surprisingly strong for only 3 years of aging. This is a bright rye. The big shortcoming is that the body is light and thin. This is more dilute than I would like.
Finish: fairly long, keeping the spice and wood flavours until the end.
Balance: the flavours here are excellent and clear. It is unfortunate that they are not more concentrated. This whiskey is good as it is, but would be fantastic at barrel proof or at 53.5% ABV/107 proof.
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Baltimore word is that standard 3 yo Pikesville Supreme 40% ABV rye is being discontinued. Too bad. Batch by batch this one could be just ok, or it could be very good indeed. A good bottle well opened up could well be an 87-88 point whiskey. The current and presumably last almost 700 bottles of it in my county are still being sold for $ 12.95 per 750 ml., up from $ 8.65 per 750 ml four years ago. Maybe there will even be a closeout price now?
There isn't much incentive anymore for Heaven Hill to sell an inexpensive young Pikesville rye, now that they know that their 6 yo product is popular.
Sic transit gloria cheaporum.